Australia: Jack Duggan rounding into winning form

Bred in Kentucky, Jack Duggan was a winner in Ireland in 2019 before he was sent to Australia in the winter of 2020-2021.

In the last two years, Jack Duggan has had mixed results, going winless in 2021 before winning three times last year. Jack Duggan has yet to win in four starts in 2023, but his last two races suggest a victory is possible in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Hawkesbury Racecourse near Sydney on Wednesday evening.

Trained by Jason Deamer, Jack Duggan finished third by less than a length in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Hawkesbury on Aug. 8, and was fourth by 3 1/2 lengths after a wide trip in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Gosford Racecourse on Aug. 23. In both races, Jack Duggan conceded considerable weight to the winners.

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In the Wednesday evening race at Hawkesbury, Jack Duggan is rated as a contender in a field of eight along with Golden Passport and Celestial Fury. Hawkesbury has an eight-race program beginning at 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Golden Passport will start at 1 5/16 miles for the first time in his seventh start. Golden Passport beat maidens in his fifth start in a maiden race at 7 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook on Aug. 11 and followed with a second by 1 1/2 lengths in a handicap at a mile at Wyong on Aug. 27.

A 4-year-old gelding, Golden Passport has a tendency to run near the front and will have his stamina tested at Hawkesbury.

Celestial Fury won the Aug. 23 race at Gosford that included Jack Duggan, a victory that ended a six-race losing streak. Celestial Fury, who can lead and is also effective as a stalker, was second in his only other appearance at Hawkesbury, in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 8. Jack Duggan was third in that field.

In both of those races, Celestial Fury carried considerably less weight than Jack Duggan. On Wednesday evening at Hawkesbury, Jack Duggan will carry 132 pounds, while Celestial Fury will carry 131. The spread was more than six pounds at Gosford on Aug. 23.

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