Australia: Lochita continues comeback with Tuesday handicap

Lochita, the 5-year-old Australian-bred mare, will have her second start after an eight-month layoff in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday.

After Lochita finished a respectable fourth in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Taree Racecourse on Dec. 20, the longer distance on Tuesday should be a good fit. Lochita has won 3 of 8 starts, including two starts in handicaps at a mile in February and April.

Lochita is part of a field of 11 in the sixth race at Muswellbrook. First post time is 8:45 p.m. Eastern, or 5:45 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.

Lochita will start from post 4, which should aid her stalking style. Lochita was winless in two starts for the training combination of Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse before joining current trainer Jason Deamer in late 2019.

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Deamer had won with 10 of 50 starters from Aug. 21 through Friday.

Lochita is helped by a weight assignment of 126.7 pounds, compared to 134.4 pounds for topweight Disgraceful, who will be a longshot, or Dashing ‘n’ Daring, who will carry 131 pounds and rates a good chance to win for the third time in his last five starts.

A 6-year-old Australian-bred gelding, Dashing ‘n’ Daring won a seven-furlong handicap at Tuncurry Racecourse on Dec. 7 in his first start since late August. Dashing ‘n’ Daring won a lower-level handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook on Aug. 2 and followed with a game loss by a nose in a handicap at the same distance at Muswellbrook on Aug. 16.

Larynx, a winner of 3 of 23 starts, may set the pace, but has not been able to maintain that position in recent starts. Larynx is winless in his last six starts since a handicap at 7 1/4 furlongs at Muswellbrook in April.