Australia: Kentucky-bred Mutamanni to be favored in Randwick handicap

The Kentucky-bred gelding Mutamanni is off to a fine start to his career in Australia, winning two of his first four appearances since late May.

A close fourth in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney July 8, Mutamanni will start favored in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Randwick on Friday evening, seeking his first win at the prestigious venue.

Trained by Chris Waller, Mutamanni began his career in France where he won a maiden race for 2-year-olds on turf at Chantilly in October 2021. Unraced in 2022, Mutamanni was listed as sold for approximately $100,000 at a horses of racing age sale in Britain last fall.

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Since joining Waller’s stable, Mutamanni has won handicaps at seven furlongs and a mile, racing from well behind early. At Randwick July 8, Mutamanni was beaten 1 3/4 lengths as the 3-1 favorite in a field of 12 in his first start at 1 1/4 miles.

At Randwick on Friday evening, Mutamanni will be ridden by Zac Lloyd, who was aboard the Kitten’s Joy gelding for a win in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm June 28.

Mutamanni is part of a field of 12 colts, geldings and horses in the fifth race on a 10-race program that begins at 9:20 p.m. Eastern or 6:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Touristic, third in the same race as Mutamanni July 8, was the 7-2 second choice in early betting on Thursday, behind 5-2 Mutamanni. Touristic, who runs from well off the pace, won a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney on July 1 for his third career win.

The distance will work for the British-bred gelding Special Envoy, who won his second start in Australia in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Randwick on July 15. Special Envoy won races at 1 1/4 miles and 1 7/16 miles in Britain last year when trained by John and Thady Gosden.

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