Australia: Maiden Tiz Invincible likely favorite in Rosebud Stakes

For a maiden, the filly Tiz Invincible carries a hearty reputation in her first start in four months in the $130,400 Rosebud Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening.

Tiz Invincible is winless in two starts, both stakes – a fourth as the 8-5 favorite in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes at Canberra in March, and a second by 1 3/4 lengths in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in April.

In both races, Tiz Invincible closed from off the pace and is expected to race in a similar manner in the Rosebud Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Tiz Invincible will be ridden for the first time by top jockey James McDonald, who has been aboard the filly for two recent training races from the gate, or barrier trials.

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As of early Thursday, Tiz Invincible was the 8-5 favorite in early betting in a field of eight, compared to The Instructor at 3-1 and Cigar Flick at 7-2.

The Instructor, who is expected to be part of the pace, won his first two starts in January before an eighth-place finish by slightly more than 2 1/2 lengths in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at six furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne in February, his most recent start.

Cigar Flick has won 2 of 5 starts for trainer Chris Waller, including a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on July 8. Cigar Flick often runs from slightly off the pace.

The Rosebud Stakes is a prep for the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Aug. 26.

On Friday evening, Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program beginning at 9:35 p.m. Eastern or 6:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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