Australia: Knife's Edge bids to end losing streak in Coonabarabran Cup

A wide trip kept Knife’s Edge from winning a seven-furlong handicap at Dubbo Racecourse in Australia on Sept. 29 and has made the veteran the favorite to end a seven-race losing streak in the Coonabarabran Cup at a mile at Coonabarabran Racecourse on Saturday evening.

Knife’s Edge, who was the 2-1 favorite in early betting on Friday for the Coonabarabran Cup, was closer to the outside rail than the inside in the stretch at Dubbo. He closed steadily to finish second by a half-length to Deel Street who saved ground.

Deel Street is part of the Coonabarabran Cup field of 11.

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

Knife’s Edge, a winner of 5 of 33 starts, will be ridden for the first time by Aaron Bullock, and starts from post 9, which should suit his closing style. Trained by Garry Lunn, Knife’s Edge will carry topweight of 134.4 pounds, spotting the others one to 16 pounds.

Deel Street followed his win at Dubbo with a sixth-place finish in the Coonamble Cup at a mile at Coonamble Racecourse on Oct. 8, failing to play a factor as a 30-1 outsider. He is rated to have a better chance in this field and gets a favorable weight break by carrying 125.6. Deel Street had a nine-pound advantage on Knife’s Edge at Dubbo.

Osman, who will carry 133 pounds in the Coonabarabran Cup, won the Parkes Cup at a mile in May, but has lost his last three races. Osman was second by two lengths in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury on Oct. 8.

Scorched Land, a winner of 7 of 43 career starts, but winless in eight races since December, was withdrawn from a race at Taree earlier this week in favor of the Coonabarabran Cup.

Scorched Land was third by a half-length in a one-mile handicap at Taree on Sept. 24, racing on the rail early. Scorched Land was moved outside in the stretch and closed well to just miss.

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

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.