Australia; Miss Thatcher starts 2023 campaign

For a maiden race winner, Miss Thatcher carries a lofty reputation in advance of her first start of 2023 in a six-furlong handicap at Goulburn Racecourse in Australia on Sunday evening.

A four-time runner, Miss Thatcher has not raced since she finished fourth by 1 1/2 lengths in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Goulburn last September. She raced wide and closed steadily to be closest to the front at the finish.

Miss Thatcher won from a stalking position in a six-furlong maiden race at Wagga Wagga Racecourse last August in her second start.

Trained by Tim Martin, who is based at Goulburn, Miss Thatcher is part of a field of nine in the second of seven races on Sunday evening. The program begins at 10:35 p.m. Eastern or 7:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Miss Thatcher is part of a field of nine that includes Ulysses Blue, the winner of a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Nowra Racecourse in her second start on May 23.

Ulysses Blue is well-rated and can be a factor from off the pace. The win at Nowra was her first start since January. She closed from ninth in a field of 11 to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a manner that suggested this longer race should be within her ability.

Wanaroo is the veteran of the group, compared to the lightly-raced fillies Miss Thatcher and Ulysses Blue. Wanaroo, a 4-year-old filly, has a single win in 12 starts, but has lost her last seven starts since a maiden race win in November 2021. Wanaroo was third in a five-furlong handicap at Canberra in her last start on May 19.

Wanaroo is the 131-pound topweight, while Miss Thatcher will carry 127.8 pounds. Ulysses Blue has been assigned 123 pounds.

As of early Saturday, Miss Thatcher was the 6-5 favorite, strongly-supported compared to Ulysses Blue at 7-2 and Wanaroo at 5-1.

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