Australia: Irish-bred Awesome Wonder looks to continue consistent form in handicap
With one glaring exception, the Irish-bred mare Awesome Wonder has been a consistent performer in Australia in the two months since returned to racing following a lengthy layoff.
In four starts, Awesome Wonder has finished first, second, and third, but also 10th. The relatively consistent form has made her a contender against males in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.
Trained by John O’Shea, Awesome Wonder is part of a field of 10 in the third race on a seven-race program that begins at 11:25 p.m. Eastern or 8:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
Awesome Wonder finished second by a half-length in a handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Aug. 2. Awesome Wonder closed from sixth in a field of seven, but raced in traffic with less than a quarter-mile remaining and did not have a clear path in time to challenge race winner Enotis.
The result did show Awesome Wonder can be effective at a longer distance. Her longest win in 17 starts has been 1 5/16 miles. Awesome Wonder beat males in her first start of 2023, in a one-mile handicap at Wyong Racecourse in June.
For Awesome Wonder and the other closers, there will be a pace to follow from expected favorite Okataina, who will start at 1 3/8 miles for the first time for the high profile stable of Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse. Okataina set the pace in a handicap at about 1 5/16 miles at Warwick Farm on July 19 and finished second by less than a half-length.
The well-regraded gelding Olympic Theatre will be near the front, and can challenge Okataina. Olympic Theatre has won at distances as long as about 1 1/2 miles in his 29-race career. His most recent win occurred in a one-mile handicap at Hawkesbury July 9 in which he raced as a stalker.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.