Australia: Macgyver’s Me Mate tries new distance, gets new rider at Albury

The improving gelding Macgyver’s Me Mate has had four races in his brief career, winning his last two since late May at seven furlongs at Albury Racecourse in Australia.

Macgyver’s Me Mate has won from the rail and an inside post, leading in one win and coming from a stalking position in his latest start. The versatility may be vital when he starts at a mile for the first time on Monday as the favorite in an 11-runner handicap at Albury.

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Trained by Heath Maclean, Macgyver’s Me Mate was third in his debut in January and beaten less than a half-length in his second start, a maiden race at Albury on May 15. He followed with wins at Albury on May 25 and June 15.

Aside from the distance, the most notable change will be the presence of jockey Blaike McDougall, who replaces Brodie Loy. McDougall rode Macgyver’s Me Mate in a training race, or a barrier trial, last December. Loy is not riding on Monday and has not had a mount since June 20.

Macgyver’s Me Mate and Rivage have the fewest number of starts in the field. Rivage was last of 12 in a handicap at seven furlongs on June 4 in his first start in nearly 23 months and figures to be an outsider in Monday’s race.

Macgyver’s Me Mate will carry 130 pounds, slightly less than Gentleman Max and Monkery at 134.4 pounds. Gentleman Max was assigned 141 pounds, but has a significant weight break because of the presence of apprentice jockey Julia Presits.

Gentleman Max, a 7-year-old gelding who races from off the pace, will have his 120th start on Monday. He ended a 17-race losing streak since last August with a win in a handicap at a mile at Albury on June 15, with Presits aboard. Monkery was third in that field.

Gentleman Max will have his 10th start of 2020 on Monday. In 2019, Gentleman Max won four races in 24 starts.

First post time at Albury is 10:55 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.