Australia: Home Ground totes top weight in Canterbury Park handicap

In 2018, Home Ground was a minor stakes winner in Australia and ran in three Group 1 races before he was exported to Hong Kong.

Home Ground never raced in Hong Kong and was eventually sent back to Australia and former trainer John Sargent. Home Ground’s comeback began with a fourth-place finish on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick at 7 3/4 furlongs on July 1 and a fifth there in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on July 18.

Wednesday at Canterbury Park, Home Ground is the 131-pound topweight in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles, a distance that should be more to his liking. In 2018, Home Ground won the Geelong Classic at 1 3/8 miles followed by a fifth in the Group 1 Victorian Derby at Flemington in his final start before being sent to Hong Kong.

Home Ground was assigned 135.5 pounds in Wednesday’s race, but the presence of apprentice jockey Chris Williams reduces the assignment.

A 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding by High Chaparral, Home Ground is part of a competitive field of eight in the handicap, the second of seven races at Canterbury Park. First post is 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Runners such as Controlthewitness (124.5 pounds), Misty Summer (122.3), and Tochi (130 pounds) will post a threat to Home Ground.

Controlthewitness, trained by Kris Lees, has won 5 of 15 starts. Controlthewitness ended a six-race losing streak with a win by three-quarters of a length in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Gosford Park on July 16.

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Misty Summer, a 5-year-old mare, has won two of her last three starts, with both wins in handicap at 1 5/16 miles. Trained by Chris Waller, Misty Summer is a danger in this field with a light weight assignment and a stalking style.

Tochi, a 5-year-old mare, won three consecutive starts in handicaps at 1 3/16 miles in January and February, including two races at Canterbury Park. Although Tochi is winless in her last three races, she was beaten a nose in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park on July 22. Tochi is likely to set the pace.