Australia: Iknowastar continues to stretch out in distance at Wagga Wagga

The Australian gelding Iknowastar was no factor in five starts in sprints at distances ranging from five to six furlongs from last March to early February.

In a longer sprint and in a one-mile race later in February, Iknowastar won the first two races of his career. The winning streak will be tested when Iknowastar races at 1 1/4 miles for the first time in a handicap at Wagga Wagga Racecourse on Sunday evening.

Iknowastar, favored in early betting on Saturday, is part of a field of 12 in the second race on a seven-race program that begins at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Iknowastar may be alone on the lead, although the outsiders Mohanna and Tia Karete are effective as stalkers. A soft early pace may help Iknowastar at a new distance.

Jockey Jeff Stanley rides Iknowastar for the first time, replacing Brad Rawiller, who is not riding the Wagga Wagga program.

Of the 12 runners, Iknowastar is the only last-race winner. The 5-year-old mare Smelisha won for the third time in her career in a handicap at about seven furlongs at Moruya in January, but has since finished seventh and sixth.

In her last start, Smelisha was sixth by about four lengths in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Feb. 10 at 60-1 in her first start at the distance. Considering Moonee Valley has a stretch less than a furlong in length, the loss cannot be criticized too strongly.

The stretch at Wagga Wagga is slightly longer than a quarter-mile, ample time for Smelisha to challenge Iknowastar.

The longshot War at Sea should have no problem with the distance. A 5-year-old gelding, War at Sea won a maiden race at 1 1/2 miles in his ninth career start in February 2022 and has finished 10th and third in races at 1 1/4 miles this year following an 11-month layoff.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.