Australia: Mankayan favored in Newcastle Gold Cup

Mankayan has compiled a fine record of three wins in four starts this year racing in handicaps at major tracks in Melbourne, Australia.

That form has made him the favorite for his first start in a group race since October, the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup at 1 9/16 miles at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday.

The $168,200 Newcastle Gold Cup is part of an eight-race program that begins at 11 p.m. Eastern or 8 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Trained by the powerful stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Mankayan raced near the front and won a four-runner handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Aug. 20 as the 9-10 favorite.

Last October, Mankayan was second by three-quarters of a length in the Group 3 Hotham Handicap at 1 9/16 miles at Flemington Racecourse.

In the Newcastle Gold Cup, Mankayan was 2-1 in early betting on Wednesday, with Durston and Born a King at 3-1 in a field of eight.

Durston and Born a King, both trained by Chris Waller, each won his last start. Durston closed from seventh of eighth to win the Wyong Cup at 1 5/16 miles by 1 3/4 lengths, ending a two-race losing streak. The distance of the Newcastle Gold Cup should not be an issue for Durston, who has won at 1 13/16 miles.

Born a King won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Aug. 27 for his fourth win in 18 starts. A 6-year-old British-bred, Born a King was second by a head in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick in January, his only start at a distance close to that of the Newcastle Gold Cup.

Born a King has shown the ability to stalk the pace or race from the back of a field.

In the Newcastle Gold Cup, Born a King has a weight break, carrying 119 pounds, 11 less than joint topweights Arapaho and Manakayan at 130 pounds. Durston carries 122.3 pounds.