Australia: Maple Gold takes on winners in Monday one-mile handicap

For a gelding from a high-profile stable, Maple Gold was overlooked at 30-1 when he won his debut in a maiden race at Muswellbrook Racecourse in Australia on Jan. 4.

The victory has led trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to enter Maple Gold in a one-mile handicap at Goulburn Racecourse on Monday against runners with multiple wins.

Despite the lack of experience, Maple Gold is well regarded in a field of 10. As of early betting on Saturday, Maple Gold was the 2-1 favorite, a slight choice over three-time winner Post Free (3-1) and the four-time winner Hemmerle (9-2).

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The one-mile handicap is the second race on a seven-race program that begins at 10:05 p.m. Eastern, or 7:05 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Maple Gold was ridden by Winona Costin at Muswellbrook in a race at 7 1/2 furlongs. She retains the mount at Goulburn, where Maple Gold will start from post 5. Maple Gold was always near the front in his maiden-race win and should have a favorable trip in this race with a start from the middle of the gate.

Post Free and the outsider Affiliate are the only other runners with wins in their most recent starts. Affiliate won a one-mile handicap at Queanbeyan against a lower class of handicap runners on Jan. 8 and faces a class test against this field.

Post Free won a one-mile handicap at Queanbeyan on Jan. 17 against the same level of handicap runners as this race at Goulburn, ending a 14-race losing streak. The one-week gap between starts equals the fastest turnaround in Post Free’s 24-race career. She was fifth and third in maiden races on consecutive Mondays in late March 2020.

A 5-year-old mare, Post Free tends to race near the front.

Hemmerle, a 7-year-old gelding, won a handicap at about seven furlongs at Moruya on Jan. 13 from a stalking position. Hemmerle ended a 15-race losing streak since February 2020 with that victory.

Hemmerle won a maiden race at Goulburn in his debut in 2018.