Australia: Jailbreak favored in 7-furlong qualifier

Two days later than expected, the remainder of a racing program scheduled for Sunday will be completed at Coonamble Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday.

The first two races of the program were run Sunday before the remainder of the races were canceled because of weather. The third through ninth races on the Sunday program will comprise a seven-race card on Tuesday, without changes to post positions.

The card has significance. The rescheduled day’s top race is a seven-furlong qualifier for the County Championships to be held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on April 3. The field for that race is determined by regional qualifying races, including a race at Coonamble that drew a field of 11.

The first two finishers at Coonamble advance to the final. Wagering on the Coonamble program is available at DRFBets.com on Monday evening.

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Jailbreak will be favored Tuesday on the basis of a win in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Dubbo Racecourse on Feb. 21 in his first start since late September.

Jailbreak is one of three runners in the field trained by Kody Nestor; all have excellent chances.

Jailbreak has won 5 of 16 starts, including a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Coonamble last March in his only appearance at the tiny venue, approximately 250 miles northwest of Sydney.

This will be the second stat at Coonamble for Eva’s Deel, who was fourth in a six-furlong handicap at Mudgee on Feb. 28 in her first start in three months. Eva’s Deel, also trained by Nestor, has won 4 of 12 starts. Eva’s Deel was second in a one-mile handicap at Coonamble last October, closing from the back of the field, her typical style.

Activation, trained by Nestor, was third in a separate six-furlong handicap at Mudgee on Feb. 28 in her first start since November. Activation is another closer, while Jailbreak tends to run closer to the pace.

The Nestor horses could be tested by Wild Rocket, a 4-year-old mare who has won four of her last five starts, all in races at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile. Wild Rocket won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Dubbo Racecourse on Feb. 14 in her most recent start.

The County Championship series is restricted to horses that have been based with countryside trainers in the state of New South Wales since last July and not with trainers at the major metropolitan tracks. After appearing in the final, horses must be based with a countryside trainers for an additional year.