Australia: Maui's comeback could gain steam in Tuesday handicap

A slow start and a wide trip cost Maui in a six-furlong handicap at Sale Racecourse in Australia last month in his first race in 11 months.

Eliminating either of those setbacks may result in a win for Maui in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Ballarat Racecourse on Tuesday.

A winner of 2 of 9 starts, the New Zealand-bred Maui was beaten slightly less than 2 1/4 lengths at Sale, finishing closest at the wire. He was five-wide at one point in a field of seven when he launched his bid. A 4-year-old gelding, Maui tends to run from off the pace, a style that worked as recently as a one-mile handicap at Pakenham in February 2021.

Considering the lengthy layoff and the less-than-ideal trip, Maui ran very well in his comeback, and is rated as one of several leading contenders in a field of nine in the fifth of eight races at Ballarat. The program begins at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, or 7:30 p.m. Pacific on Monday.

Aside from Maui, Comic Set, and Barragunda are capable of wins.

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Comic Set won for the third time in his 24-race career in a lower-level handicap at 7 1/4 furlongs at Kyneton Racecourse on March 3. He is another runner who tends to race from off the pace.

Barragunda had a messy trip when ninth of 13 in a one-mile handicap at Ararat on March 4. Barragunda was at the back of the field early, was aggressively ridden toward the front in early stretch and then faded to finish 11 3/4 lengths behind the winner. A post-race examination revealed no abnormalities, according to Australian racing officials.

Barragunda was a good second against a better field in a more lucrative handicap at a 7 1/2 furlongs at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne in his preceding start on Feb. 11. A winner of 2 of 11 starts, Barragunda typically races as a stalker.