Australia: Mix will be tested at a mile in Ballina Cup

In his 23-race career, the Australian gelding Mix has won six times, but has never raced beyond seven furlongs.

Mix won at that distance in a handicap at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Jan. 3 and will start at about a mile for the first time in the Ballina Cup at Ballina Racecourse on Thursday evening.

The distance may work for the 5-year-old gelding, who tends to run from off the pace. The key to winning the Ballina Cup will be a clean trip. The race drew a field of 18 and will be limited to 14 runners. Mix has a good position in post 7 to aid his closing style.

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As of Wednesday, Mix was the 9-2 second choice behind the promising gelding Spangler, a winner of 3 of 7 starts. Spangler won a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Racecourse on Nov. 25 and was third by a little more than a half-length in a tough one-mile handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 17.

Spangler closed with a wide rally at Randwick, and was slow to change leads in the stretch. Jockey Andrew Mallyon will ride Spangler for the first time. Mallyon had a three-win day at Doomben Racecourse on Wednesday, by far his best day in the last month.

The distance of the Ballina Cup should suit Point Counterpoint, who was third in the Armidale Cup at 1 3/16 miles on Dec. 11, losing by 1 1/4 lengths, and won at 7 3/4 furlongs as recently as September in a handicap at Canterbury. Point Counterpoint was fourth of 20 in the Little Dance Stakes at a mile at Randwick on Nov. 1, closing from eighth to miss by a length.

Ballina has an eight-race program beginning at 9:35 p.m. Eastern or 6:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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