Australia: Just Jake drops in class at Bendigo
Just Jake had a two-race winning streak end with a 10th-place finish in a handicap at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 22.
The loss was not a surprise. Just Jake was racing against a better class of runners, was a 16-1 outsider, and had trouble in the final furlong.
A 5-year-old gelding, Just Jake faces a slightly easier field in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Bendigo Racecourse on Wednesday. This race does not have a strong of a field.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
Just Jake is one of four contenders in an open field of 10, and must beat Altai Ranger, Brenlyn’s Trooper and Ruby Street.
Just Jake has set the pace at times, but seems best suited by racing as a stalker.
Brenlyn’s Trooper, a winner of 3 of 7 starts, tends to run from off the pace. Brenlyn’s Trooper won consecutive starts in April and May and had an encouraging comeback from a four-month layoff when second by three-quarters of a length in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Bendigo Racecourse on Oct. 27.
Altai Ranger could be the runner to catch, and a danger considering he has raced against tougher rivals in recent starts. A winner of 4 of 13 starts, Altai Ranger has not started since a fourth in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on June 12.
Ruby Street, a 5-year-old mare, is winless in her last three starts, but two of those races were group stakes, a far cry from the competition in this field. Ruby Street was fourth by 1 3/4 lengths in a seven-furlong handicap at Bendigo on Oct. 27, closing some ground in the final furlong despite racing on the inside.
Bendigo has an eight-race program beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern or 6 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.