Australia: Look for a late rally from Apologetic in handicap at Echuca

Apologetic ended a four-race losing streak with a come-from-behind victory as the favorite in a six-furlong handicap at tiny Warracknabeal Racecourse on July 18.

Apologetic’s closing style could lead to another win on Monday in a seven-furlong handicap at Echuca Racecourse. Apologetic is part of a field of 12 in a race that should be run with a pace for him to pursue.

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

Trained by Colin Scott, Apologetic has won 2 of 9 starts. Before his recent win, he finished fourth by 2 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong handicap at Echuca on July 3. For Monday’s race, Apologetic has inherited the role of highweight from Thoughts’n’prayers, who will be ridden by apprentice jockey Logan McNeil and will carry an adjusted weight of 136.6 pounds. Apologetic will carry 138.8 pounds.

Apologetic figures to be the second choice behind Cheronkoh, a 5-year-old mare who has won 2 of 15 starts. Trained by Kevin Corstens, Cheronkoh is winless in three starts since she won a seven-furlong handicap at Ballarat Racecourse on May 9.

Cheronkoh, who also races as a closer, has started against tougher company in a few of her recent starts. She was fifth, beaten about 2 1/4 lengths, in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Cranbourne Racecourse on July 8.

Thoughts’n’prayers may set the pace. A winner of 2 of 6 starts, Thoughts’n’prayers won a handicap at about six furlongs at Moe Racecourse on July 17 in his second start of 2021. He was third in a six-furlong handicap at Echuca on July 3 in his first start of the year, beaten a little more than 2 1/4 lengths.

Echucha has a 10-race program beginning at 10 p.m., Eastern, or 7 p.m., Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. Echuca is located in the Victorian countryside, about 135 miles north of Melbourne.