Australia: Iknowastar needs good performance to ensure Big Dance berth
The main race for the Australian gelding Iknowastar in the short-term future is the $1.9 million Big Dance Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Nov. 7.
Iknowastar earned an early berth for the Big Dance Stakes with a win in the Dubbo Cup on Sept. 10, but needs a handicap rating among the top 20 qualifiers to be assured of a position in the gate.
A win in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Randwick on Tuesday evening would lead to a higher rating for the red-hot Iknowastar, who has won his last three starts and 7 of 14 races in his career.
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With the recent success, Iknowastar must carry a hefty weight of 134.4 pounds against eight rivals on Tuesday evening. The original weight assignment was 141. The booking of apprentice jockey Amy McLucas reduces the weight.
McLucas rode Iknowastar in the 4-year-old gelding’s last start – a win in a seven-furlong handicap on the Kensington course on Oct. 4.
Iknowastar, trained by Bjorn Baker, is quick enough to lead, and will need to utilize that speed with an inside post.
The weight, and a questionable post, have not deterred early bettors who had Iknowastar as the 6-5 favorite as of Monday morning.
There will be support for Holymanz, who finished ninth by three lengths in a seven-furlong handicap at Randwick on Sept. 16, extending a losing streak since February to four races. Holymanz will carry 133 pounds.
This race will be a jump in class for The Replicant, a 5-year-old New-Zealand-bred gelding who won a seven-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm in a 16-1 upset on Oct. 2, ending a six-race losing streak. The Replicant gets a significant weight break, carrying just 121 pounds.
The program begins at 10:55 p.m. Eastern or 7:55 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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