Australia: Members Only could show improved form in Monday handicap
A course record contributed to a loss by Members Only in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 18.
Members Only finished third, beaten a little more than 6 1/4 lengths, by the odds-on favorite Wardaddy, who was timed in 1:12.93.
Wardaddy is currently being given a rest. Members Only continues his season in a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Newcastle on Monday.
Members Only is part of a wide-open field of 12 in the fifth race on a seven-race program that begins at 9:45 p.m. Eastern or 6:45 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Trained by Nathan Doyle, who is based at Newcastle, Members Only has had an eventful span since beating maidens at Newcastle last March. Members Only was pulled up in his first start against winners in April, and was later last of 14 in a handicap in May before he was given a six-month break.
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Members Only was fourth in his comeback in November before the loss on Dec. 18. There are clues he could be rounding into form for his third race following a rest.
Lonely Power and Dodecanese have given promising performances of late and can beat Members Only.
The lightly raced Lonely Power, a winner of 2 of 4 starts, faces Members Only for the second consecutive race. Lonely Power was sixth behind Wardaddy on Dec. 18 in his second start following a four-month layoff.
By comparison, this is the 32nd start for Dodecanese, a 5-year-old gelding who has won three times. Dodecanese was winless in seven starts in 2021, but ended the season with two second-place finishes in December.
At Wyong on Dec. 15, Dodecanese was beaten a nose in a one-mile handicap, racing near the front throughout as the 6-5 favorite. Dodecanese has not won beyond seven furlongs, even though his last start could be considered a winning effort.
This shorter trip should work for a gelding capable of racing near the front or from off the pace.