Australia: Horrifying facing easier competition in attempt to break losing streak

Horrifying, the 4-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, finished fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby in Australia at 1 1/2 miles in May 2021 in his first start at the distance. His second attempt at 1 1/2 miles occurs in a handicap at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Trained by father and son team of Mark and Levi Kavanagh, Horrifying has won 4 of 20 starts and should have no difficulty with the distance. A closer, Horrifying finished with interest to be fifth in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at 1 5/8 miles for 3, 4, and 5 year-olds at Flemington Racecourse in his last start on May 14, a much tougher race than he will face in a field of 14 at Sandown.

Horrifying, who will be ridden by Mark Zahra, is winless in nine starts since a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in May 2021 in his final prep for the Queensland Derby. Earlier this year, Horrifying was second in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Mornington Racecourse on April 28.

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Horrifying was a slight favorite as of Monday for the race at Sandown, the second on a nine-race program that begins at 9:50 p.m. Eastern or 6:50 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The mare Lunatic Fringe, the Irish import Yarrawonga, and the distance specialist Boyszee have excellent chances.

Lunatic Fringe will start at 1 1/2 miles for the first time, but has won at 1 7/16 miles, which is essentially the same distance. She was second in the Casterton Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Casterton Racecourse on May 15 as an odds-on favorite, leading in the stretch but unable to hold off a late run from the gelding Brawl.

Yarrawonga beat maidens in his fourth and final start at 1 1/2 miles at The Curragh in Ireland last July for trainer Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore syndicate. Yarrawonga is now owned by a large partnership and trained by Robert Hickmott.

Boyszee has mixed form in recent starts. A 4-year-old gelding, Boyszee won a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Geelong Racecourse on April 9, but was only seventh of 14 by slightly more than seven lengths in a handicap at about 1 1/2 miles at Warrnambool on May 3, closing from 11th in the final half-mile.