Australia: Moe Cup distance ideal for Not Usual Glorious

At distances around 1 1/4 miles, Not Usual Glorious thrives. He has won 11 of 26 starts, with six of those wins in races ranging from 1 1/4 miles to 1 5/16 miles.

He has his niche, and has the role of favorite in the Moe Cup at about 1 1/4 miles at Moe Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening across American time zones.

Not Usual Glorious was the 7-5 favorite in early betting on Wednesday in a field of 10. A 6-year-old, he tends to run near the front. The strategy worked against three rivals in a lucrative handicap at about 1 1/ 4 miles at Moonee Valley on July 30, but failed when he finished sixth of 16, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Balaklava Cup at a mile at Balaklava Racecourse on Sept. 14.

Not Usual Glorious rebounded to win the Benalla Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Benalla Racecourse on Sept. 23.

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The race at Moe continues the gelding’s pattern of appearances in cup races at countryside tracks. Trained by Travis Doudle, Not Usual Glorious will be ridden by Neil Farley, who was aboard for a win in the Benalla Cup.

Fengarada, a 5-year-old gelding who has won 5 of 15 starts, will not be far from Not Usual Glorious in the Moe Cup. Fengarada won three consecutive starts at 1 1/8 and 1 5/16 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne from mid-July to late August, but was eighth of 12 in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Caulfield Racecourse on Sept. 17 against tougher company than his previous starts.

Fengarada might get a good trip in the Moe Cup if Not Usual Glorious faces early pressure from Global Gift, who is winless in four starts at a mile since late June, and often runs near the front. Global Gift is winless in three starts at 1 1/4 miles, but has finished second and third at the distance.

Moe has a nine-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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