Australia: Home by Midnight makes only second start over hurdles in Australian Hurdle
Home by Midnight is in the midst of a career change at the age of 8.
Sunday, Home by Midnight will have his stakes debut over obstacles in the $96,625 Australian Hurdle at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, the gelding’s 61st start.
An 11-time winner, Home by Midnight won his only other appearance in a hurdle race, beating maidens last August in his final start of 2020. This year, Home by Midnight is winless in three starts in flat races, including a second in the Terang Cup at about 1 5/16 miles at Terang Racecourse on April 18.
Home by Midnight was seventh of 14 in the Warrnambool Cup at about 1 1/2 miles on May 6, closing from last in the final half-mile.
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In the handicap conditions of the Australian Hurdle at 2 7/16 miles, Home by Midnight will carry 143 pounds, well below topweight Instigator at 156. Instigator was second in the Galleywood Hurdle at two miles at Warrnambool on May 5 behind The Statesman, who will carry 153 pounds in the Australian Hurdle.
Saunter Boy, fourth in the Galleywood, and Valac, unbeaten in two hurdle races, are other contenders in the Australian Hurdle, which drew a field of nine Valac won a two-mile hurdle for novices at Warrnambool on May 6.
The eight-race program at Sandown begins at 10:10 p.m., Eastern, or 7:10 p.m., Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
The Australian Hurdle is followed by the $96,625 Australian Steeplechase at 2 7/16 miles, which drew a field of seven.
Bit of a Lad, who won the 2020 Australian Steeplechase, is the 156-pound topweight, yielding 13 pounds to Michelin, the winner of a handicap chase at about 2 1/8 miles at Warrnambool on May 5 who will be a strong favorite.
Bit of a Lad had a busy week at Warrnambool earlier this month, finishing second in the Brierly Chase at about 2 1/8 miles on May 4 and fifth of 10 in the Grand Annual Chase at 3 7/16 miles two days later, the top race of the three-day meeting.