Australia: Hypersonic drops blinkers, finds softer spot

The competition was too sharp for Hypersonic in a six-furlong handicap Aug. 1 at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Australia.

Hypersonic raced near the lead and faded to finish 10th of 14, beaten 7 1/4 lengths, the first loss in the 4-year-old gelding’s third start.

For his fourth start at Bendigo Racecourse on Friday, Hypersonic faces an easier field and will race without blinkers for the first time. Hypersonic is expected to take his customary position near the front in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs, a distance that may be a better fit.

Hypersonic is likely to be a slight choice over more experienced runners such as Bons Abroad and Namibia.

The handicap will have a full field of 14 and is the eighth race on a nine-race program that begins at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, or 7:30 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Hypersonic, trained by the father-son team of Tony and Calvin McEvoy, won a maiden race at Murray Bridge Racecourse at 4 1/2 furlongs on July 4 and a handicap at five furlongs at Morphettville on July 18.

At Bendigo, Hypersonic will break from post 8 and should have a target in Eagle Spirit, a six-time winner who will start from the rail and frequently shows speed.

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Hypersonic must be sharp to hold off closing rivals.

The 4-year-old mare Bons Abroad has been first and second in two starts on the Lakeside course at Sandown in the last month following a break of nearly four months.

Namibia, also a 4-year-old mare, has won 2 of 5 starts for trainer Danny O’Brien who has with won seven of his last 50 runners from July 3 through Wednesday.

Namibia is one of those winners, in a handicap at about 5 3/4 furlongs on July 31 at Geelong in her first start since February. Namibia is a threat from off the pace.