Australia: Kievann in good form for six-furlong handicap

It’s safe to say that 81 races into his career, the 10-year-old Australian-bred Kievann is a six-furlong specialist.

Kievann has won 10 of 57 starts at six furlongs, including a handicap at Dalby Racecourse on March 6. Kievann is back at the same distance on Monday in a handicap at Grafton Racecourse, where he has an excellent chance for his 15th career win.

Trained by Lauren Abbott for the last three years, Kievann ended a nine-race losing streak dating back to September in the race at Dalby. On Monday, Kievann will race at Grafton for the third time, having won a six-furlong handicap in March 2020 at the course, but finishing seventh in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs there in November.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd was aboard Kievann at Dalby and retains the mount at Grafton in a field of 11. Lloyd is likely to have Kievann in a stalking position.

The presence of Lloyd reduces Kievann’s weight assignment from 129 pounds to 122.3 pounds, leaving Patriot as the 130-pound topweight.

Patriot, who is only 6, won for the second time in his last three starts in a six-furlong handicap at Grafton on March 14, closing from sixth of 11 in the stretch. Patriot has won 8 of 46 starts and will have his sixth consecutive start at Grafton.

The Drake, another 6-year-old, was fourth behind Patriot at Grafton on March 14, closing from seventh to lose by a little more than a length. The Drake was in contention with a sixteenth of a mile remaining, but could not sustain the effort.

The race will be an appreciated class drop for Northern Wilderose, a 5-year-old mare who was a game second in a six-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie on Jan. 22 in her first start in more than three months, but 10th of 12 at Coffs Harbour in a seven-furlong handicap against a tougher field on Feb. 13 in which she set the pace and faded.

Grafton has a 10-race program beginning at 9:40 p.m. Eastern, or 6:40 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.