Australia: Mount Popa has big chance to end losing streak

The scratch of the group stakes winner Luncies has left Mount Popa as the 133-pound topweight in the $126,400 Port Macquarie Cup at Taree Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening.

Despite the hefty weight assignment in a field of 11, Mount Popa has a strong chance to end a six-race losing streak since the Group 3 Rosewood Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney in March 2022.

The Port Macquarie Cup is also run at 1 1/4 miles, and has the added distinction of being one of the final qualifying races for the $1.93 million Big Dance Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Nov. 7. The first two finishers of the Port Macquarie Cup will be eligible for consideration for the Big Dance Stakes, with the final field of 20 determined by handicap ratings.

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Mount Popa, a 9-year-old Irish-bred gelding, was eighth at 60-1 in the Group 3 Cameron Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Newcastle on Sept. 15 in his first start since May. A drop in class to the Port Macquarie Cup could reverse the recent losing streak.

As of Wednesday, Mount Popa was the 7-2 second choice behind Superium, who was third by slightly more than 2 1/2 lengths in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 1.

Winless in his last 10 starts since December, Superium was the 2-1 favorite for the Port Macquairie Cup and will carry a friendly 121 pounds.

The 5-year-old gelding Holstein is capable of a mild upset, and has better recent from. Holstein won consecutive handicaps at 1 1/8 miles in August and was third by 3 3/4 lengths in the Lismore Cup at 1 5/16 miles on Sept. 21, another qualifier for the Big Dance Stakes.

Holstein, who will carry minimum weight of 119 pounds, tends to run as a stalker.

The Port Macquarie Cup has been moved to Taree while Port Macquarie Racecourse on the Australian east coast undergoes a nine-month renovation expected to be completed by April.

Taree has an eight-race program beginning at 10:05 p.m. Eastern or 7:05 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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