Australia: King Magnus aims for third straight win but at a lesser price

King Magnus won consecutive starts in handicap races in Australia in November by stalking the pace and taking the lead in the final furlong.

King Magnus was an 18-1 winner by a nose at Pakenham Racecourse on Nov. 12 and a 20-1 winner by 1 1/4 lengths on the Lakeside course at Sandown Racecourse on Nov. 25.

The same tactical scenario could develop in a seven-furlong handicap at Sandown on Wednesday, although King Magnus will be a fraction of the price. In early betting on Monday, King Magnus was the 5-1 third choice in a field of 15.

Trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock, King Magnus has won 3 of 6 starts in a career that began with a maiden race win at Moe Racecourse in January. A 5-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding, King Magnus has won at distances ranging from 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 furlongs.

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

The main competition for King Magnus are runners who will be in front of him early and well behind.

Triton Rising and Kuzco Lad were joint 4-1 favorites with bookmakers in early betting on Monday.

Triton Rising, a winner of 3 of 10 starts, won a seven-furlong handicap at Cranbourne on Nov. 6 in his second start after a five-month layoff, a performance that puts him at the forefront of Wednesday’s race. Triton Rising tends to run from the back of the field.

Kuzco Lad has won three of his last five starts for prominent trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Kuzco Lad was second in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Mornington on Nov. 18, leading to the stretch before finishing about a head behind 16-1 Unfair Dismissal.

Kuzco Lad could easily set the pace in Wednesday’s race, but could face early pressure from Redefine, who won a seven-furlong handicap at Pakenham on Nov. 26 and makes a fast turnaround for this race.

The eight-race Sandown program begins at 11:20 p.m. Eastern, or 8:20 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.