Australia: Jenni Esprit facing familiar scenario

Jenni Esprit overcame a wide draw to win her debut in a six-furlong maiden race at Mornington Racecourse in Australia in December.

The 3-year-old Australian-bred filly faces a similar scenario in her second start in a handicap against males at five furlongs at Bendigo Racecourse on Tuesday. Jenni Esprit has a wide draw in a race that will start in a chute along the side of the course before a left-handed turn brings the runners into the stretch with more than a quarter-mile to the finish.

Jenni Esprit, trained by Matt Laurie, is the least experienced runner in a full field of 14 in the sixth of eight races at Bendigo. The program begins at 11:30 p.m. Eastern, or 8:30 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

In her maiden race win, Jenni Esprit closed from third and took the lead in the final furlong, winning by three-quarters of a length.

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Jenni Esprit was 7-1 in early betting on Sunday in a race that will not have a heavy favorite. Viscacha and Dimaggio are likely to be slightly shorter prices.

Viscacha, trained by James Cummings for Godolphin Racing, has been seventh and second in sprint handicaps this year. He tends to run from slightly off the pace, similar to Jenni Esprit. Viscacha’s lone win in five starts was a maiden race for 3-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs at Moe Racecourse in October, the gelding’s final start last year.

Viscacha also has an outside post, which will put pressure on jockey Damien Oliver to ride a tactical race.

Dimaggio, a winner of 2 of 8 starts, has faced better runners in recent starts, notably a sixth by 1 3/4 lengths in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Morphettville Racecourse on Oct. 31. This is his 2021 debut.