Australia: High Plateau continues climb in Hawkesbury handicap

After a delay in 2022, the career debut of High Plateau turned out to be worth the wait in Australia last month.

High Plateau closed from last in a field of five to win a maiden race at five furlongs at Kembla Grange Racecourse.

Owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by James Cummings, the 4-year-old High Plateau has an excellent chance to remain unbeaten when he starts against winners for the first time in a five-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse on Monday evening.

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High Plateau, who will be ridden by Brad Rawiller, is part of a field of seven and starts from post 4. Rawiller was aboard High Plateau when the gelding won at Kembla Grange.

Last year, High Plateau won a schooling race in May to suggest he was nearing his first start. Instead, he was sidelined through the Australian winter. High Plateau started in three schooling races from mid-December to early February prior to his win at Kembla Grange.

At Hawkesbury, High Plateau is by far the least experienced runner in the field, and one of two runners facing winners for the first time.

The 3-year-old filly Tragara won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Newcastle last November in her seventh start, leading throughout. She pulled clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

In recent weeks, Tragara has finished second and third in schooling races in advance of her first start of 2023.

Tragara must hold off the stalker Thinking Rain, who finished fifth by slightly less than 1 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong handicap at Orange Racecourse on Feb. 27 in her first start since September.

Thinking Rain was a disappointment that day, sent off as the 3-5 favorite in a field of eight.

At Hawkesbury, High Plateau was 2-1 in early betting on Sunday, a slight choice over Thinking Rain at 5-2 and Tragara at 7-2.

Hawkesbury has an eight-race program beginning at 10:15 p.m. Eastern or 7:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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