Australia: Lake Tai can end nine-race skid with Tuesday handicap

The 12 runners in a one-mile handicap at Moe Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday will start without the benefit of a recent win.

For likely favorite Lake Tai, the handicap can end a nine-race losing streak since April 2021. Other notable starters, such as Flying Basil, Heleva Deel, and Henty, were beaten in their last starts after winning two races back.

Lake Tai, trained by Smiley Chan, will be favored on the basis of a sixth-place finish by 3 1/4 lengths in a lucrative handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Sale Racecourse on April 15, his third start this year. Earlier in the season, Lake Tai was second and third in handicaps at this level in March and April at distances of six furlongs and 6 1/2 furlongs.

Flying Basil won three races at minor tracks in March and April, and was fourth at a more prominent track, Cranbourne Racecourse, in a handicap at a mile on April 29.

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Henty beat maidens in his fifth start in a race at 7 1/4 furlongs at Kilmore Racecourse on April 21, but was seventh of 11 by 8 1/4 lengths in a tough handicap at seven furlongs at Warrnambool Racecourse on May 5.

Heleva Deel, a 4-year-old filly, has won 2 of 16 starts, with her second win in a handicap at about 1 3/16 miles at Kyneton Racecourse on March 31. She won at a mile earlier in her career, but was sixth of eight in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Benalla as the 2-1 favorite on April 12 in her most recent start.

Heleva Deel was near the front early before fading to lose by 4 1/4 lengths. The distance at Moe is a better fit for a filly trained by Henry Dwyer, who won with 6 of 50 runners from April 10 through Sunday.

The one-mile handicap is the sixth race on an eight-race program that begins at 11 p.m. Eastern, or 8 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.