Australia: Major Artie drops into softer spot at Royal Randwick

Since late June, Major Artie has finished seventh twice and third once in lucrative handicaps on high-profile Saturday programs around Sydney, Australia.

Major Artie, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, gets some class relief with a start in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick in Sydney on Wednesday. The race is not as valuable as some of Major Artie’s recent starts.

Major Artie has been running 6 ½ to 7 ½ furlongs recently. Major Artie led in deep stretch and finished eighth, beaten only two lengths, in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park on Feb. 26, an indication that the distance on Wednesday will suit him.

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Major Artie did not race again until he finished seventh at Rosehill Gardens on June 26 in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs.

At Kensington, Major Artie will carry top weight of 134.4 pounds in a field of nine. Kutahya is expected to be a slight favorite over Major Artie on the basis of a recent win.

Trained by Chris Waller, Kutahya won a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the infield Kensington course on July 21, ending a six-race losing streak, since a win in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury last November.

In both wins, Kutahya closed well from off the pace, which could be a favorable strategy in this race. James McDonald, who had the mount on July 21, will ride Kutahya again at Kensington.

Yukon, fourth by about 1 3/4 lengths behind Kutahya on July 21 in his second start following a layoff, will start in the longest race of his career at Kensington. A winner of 2 of 7 starts, Yukon led throughout a one-mile handicap at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne in June.

The seven-race Kensington program begins at 10:50 p.m., Eastern, or 7:50 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.