Australia: Jule's Spirit steps down in class at Grafton

A few times this year, the Australian-bred gelding Jule’s Spirit has been tried in tougher handicap races than his typical class. It did not work.

Jule’s Spirit won a five-furlong handicap at Casino Racecourse in May and was fourth, by a half-length, against a better group two races later at Grafton. On Sept. 10, Jule’s Spirit won a five-furlong handicap at Ballina, and followed with a fifth-place finish in a competitive six-furlong handicap at Lismore on Sept. 24. The winner of the race, Valiant, recorded his third consecutive victory.

Jule’s Spirit will race against easier company in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Grafton Racecourse on Tuesday. Trained by John Shelton, who is based at Grafton, Jule’s Spirit has won 6 of 22 starts and won at Grafton in a five-furlong handicap in March.

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A Southern Hemisphere 5-year-old, Jule’s Spirit will be ridden by Luke Rolls, who has been aboard for the gelding’s four wins in an 11-race campaign this year. Rolls has also been aboard for five of the losses.

Jule’s Spirit will carry 129 pounds, less than topweight Ashman at 134.4 pounds. Ashman will be ridden by apprentice jockey Georgina McDowell, which reduces the assignment.

Ashman, a 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, has not raced since a sixth-place finish in a seven-furlong handicap at Casino in May. Tuesday’s race is Ashman’s first start at 5 1/2 furlongs since a win in a maiden race in January 2019. Ashman won four consecutive starts in September and October of 2019 at distances ranging from 6 1/4 to 6 3/4 furlongs.

Jule’s Spirit and Ashman are likely to be in pursuit of Rexx, who was second by a length in a handicap at about six furlongs at Grafton on Sept. 29, leading into the stretch. Rexx has shown speed in several recent races.

The eight-race program at Grafton begins at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, or 7:15 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.