Australia: Kadashi brings strong form, gets class relief in Tamworth handicap

Two starts at Tamworth Racecourse in Australia in recent months have revived the career of the 7-year-old mare Kadashi.

Kadashi was second by a head in a one-mile handicap at Tamworth on June 24 and won a similar race there July 8.

Kadashi will have her third start in a one-mile handicap at Tamworth on Sunday evening across American time zones in yet another attempt to boost her career. After the win on July 8, Kadashi finished eighth of 14 in a lucrative handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Aug. 6, competition much tougher than what she will face at Tamworth.

Trained by Nikki Pollock, Kadashi was 8-5 in early betting Saturday, a clear favorite in a field of 13. Intercept (5-1) and The Dark Knight (8-1) were next in the betting.

Kadashi, who has won 3 of 23 starts, inherited the role of topweight following the scratch of Sound and Vision. Kadashi will carry 134.4 pounds, spotting rivals 2 to 13 pounds.

Aaron Bullock will ride Kadashi, who tends to run near the front.

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Intercept merits consideration after the 5-year-old gelding was second in a one-mile handicap at Tamworth on Aug. 29 in his debut at the countryside track. He tends to run from off the pace, a style that worked as recently as June when he won a seven-furlong handicap at Gunnedah.

The Dark Knight was seventh in the same race as Intercept on Aug. 29, his seventh consecutive loss. The Dark Knight was under a ride more than three furlongs from the finish and never threatened race winner Torowoto, who won by 4 1/2 lengths. The Dark Knight was beaten three lengths by Intercept.

The Dark Knight was a much better fourth in a seven-furlong handicap at Scone on Aug. 15.

Tamworth has an eight-race program beginning at 11:05 p.m. Eastern, or 8:05 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.