Australia: Lichester will try to stave off a late run from Adjourn at Gosford Racecourse

The gelding Adjourn ran out of ground when he closed from the back of a large field to finish third in a one-mile handicap at Scone Racecourse in Australia on May 12.

The opposite occurred with the filly Lichester three days earlier at Goulburn Racecourse when she reached the front in the final furlong of a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs, but was caught late and finished second.

Adjourn and Lichester meet for the first time in a one-mile handicap at Gosford Racecourse on Wednesday evening, with each capable of winning.

Adjourn will have no issue with the distance, having won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Doncaster Racecourse in Britain last July. Now trained by Kris Lees, Adjourn is winless in three starts in Australia. The third-place finish at Scone was his best result since arriving in the country last fall.

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Lichester, a New Zealand-bred 3-year-old, will be fitted with blinkers for the first time at Gosford, her sixth career start. Lichester won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Kembla Grange on April 26 in her fourth start.

Lichester set the pace in that race. At Goulburn, Lichester raced from a stalking position and was beaten slightly less than two lengths by the veteran Ladies’ Gem, who has won 7 of 70 starts.

Adjourn and Lichester rate as contenders in a field of eight in the first of eight races at Gosford. The program begins at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Adjourn and Lichester will be short prices, but probably not favored. Pacific Warrior was a slight choice in early betting on Tuesday even though he is winless in eight starts since a maiden race win at a mile last July.

Pacific Warrior has started twice in the last month on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney against tougher competition than he will face at Gosford.

Pacific Warrior was third in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs there on April 25, but seventh of 11 in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on May 10, losing the latter race by 4 1/2 lengths.

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