Australia: Marakopa tries to catch The Milkybar Kid at Warwick Farm

Marakopa should have a prominent target when the gelding starts in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday.

Marakopa tends to run as a stalker and will have a pacesetter to follow in deserving favorite The Milkybar Kid, a winner of his last three starts.

The Milkybar Kid’s winning streak began with a maiden race win at mile at Wyong Racecourse on June 16. A 3-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, The Milkybar Kid won a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick on June 29 and a handicap at about 1 5/16 miles at Warwick Farm on July 13.

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In the latter two races, The Milkybar Kid led throughout and was clear by at least 3 1/2 lengths at the finish. The Milkybar Kid has won 3 of 7 starts.

Marakopa is winless in two starts since winning a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Randwick on May 28, but cannot be strongly faulted for his recent defeats. A 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Marakopa was fifth in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup at two miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse on June 11, losing by about 5 3/4 lengths, and was second by two lengths in the Stayers Cup at 1 5/8 miles at Randwick on June 25 against tougher competition than he will face in this race at Warwick Farm.

Marakopa, trained by Robert Quinn, and The Milkybar Kid, trained by the partnership of Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, are part of a field of 11 in the second of seven races on the Warwick Farm program. First post time is 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Waterhouse-Bott team also start So United, who is winless in six starts but was a game second by a little more than a half-length in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick on July 9.

Black Queen, a 5-year-old New Zealand-bred mare, is winless in her last five starts, but is a proven stayer who has won at 1 1/2 miles and should have no problem with the distance. Black Queen is taking a slight drop in class from her recent losses.