Australia: Kangaroo Court favored in Forbes Cup

The racing world is big enough for two Kangaroo Courts.

In California, the 3-year-old Kangaroo Court was entered in Friday’s $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar.

In Australia on Saturday evening, the 4-year-old gelding Kangaroo Court will start favored in the Forbes Cup at a mile at Forbes Racecourse.

The runners can have the same name since they were registered by regulatory bodies in different nations.

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The Australian Kangaroo Court has won 2 of 5 starts and starts in the Forbes Cup on the strength of a win in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney July 22 in a 13-1 upset. Kangaroo Court closed from seventh in a field of 12 to win by a neck.

A start at Forbes will be different. The tiny track is located about 150 miles west of Sydney in the Australian countryside.

For the Forbes Cup, Kangaroo Court was the 6-5 favorite in early betting on Friday and will be part of a full field of 14. The race has long-term ramifications as a qualifier for the $1.2 million Big Dance Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in November.

The first two finishers of the Forbes Cup will become eligible for consideration for the Big Dance, which will be limited to 20 runners who were part of the year-long qualifying series. The final field is determined by wins or second-place finishes in qualifying races, with handicap ratings used to break ties if there are more than 20 entries.

A win in the Forbes Cup would increase Kangaroo Court’s rating and enhance his chances of reaching the lucrative final.

The veteran geldings Dr Evil and Ruban Bleu are two leading challengers for Kangaroo Court.

Dr Evil is winless in eight starts and has been competing of late in tough handicaps at Sydney-area tracks. He was ninth by 1 2/3 lengths in a one-mile handicap at Randwick July 29, closing well in the final furlong after racing in traffic in the stretch.

Ruban Bleu was third in the Narrandera Cup at Narrandera Racecourse July 16, a race also part of the Big Dance qualifying schedule. Ruban Bleu, winless in his last four starts, is a threat from off the pace.

Forbes has an eight-race program beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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