Australia: Miss Shalaa, Ollie’s Secret head handicap tilt at Tamworth

With a minute amount of luck, Miss Shalaa and Ollie’s Secret would have won their last starts in Australia in June.

Both closed from stalking positions to finish second by a nose, Ollie’s Secret in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Beaumont course at Newcastle on June 19, and Miss Shalaa in a one-mile handicap at Gosford Racecourse on June 22.

They meet for the first time in a one-mile handicap at Tamworth Racecourse on Thursday evening. Ollie’s Secret (2-1) and Miss Shalaa (9-2) were at the head of betting on Wednesday morning.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

They are part of a field of 11 in the fourth race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern or 7:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Ollie’s Secret won a maiden race at a mile at Tamworth last December in his sixth start and has finished fifth and second in two races this year since returning to racing on June 10. The added distance of the race at Tamworth, compared to his recent loss at Newcastle, should work for Ollie’s Secret.

Miss Shalaa beat maidens in her seventh start at Taree on June 6 in a seven-furlong race. Though winless in three starts at a mile, Miss Shalaa has been second twice. Aside from the recent loss at Gosford, Miss Shalaa was second by a half-length in a maiden race at a mile at Tamworth last December.

Similar to Ollie’s Secret, Miss Shalaa will have her third race following a layoff at Tamworth on Thursday evening.

The 4-year-old gelding Cherry Blue has won three times in his 21-race career, with each victory at a mile. Cherry Blue is winless in four starts since a one-mile handicap at Gunnedah Racecourse on May 2, but did close from well off the pace to finish second by three-quarters of a length in a one-mile handicap at Coonamble on June 18.

The race at Tamworth represents a jump in class for Cherry Blue from that race.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.