Australia: Mountain Ghost back on track, looking for more in handicap

Mountain Ghost was ambitiously raced in group-level stakes in Australia in April as a maiden. She finished second of 12 at 30-1 in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on April 1, but was 14th in a field of 15 in the Group 1 ATC Stakes at 1 1/2 miles a week later.

More modest goals in recent weeks have led to a two-race winning streak, and a start in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.

Mountain Ghost is part of a field of eight in the first race on a seven-race program that begins at 11:25 p.m. Eastern or 8:25 p.m. Pacific.

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Trained by John Sargent, Mountain Ghost was rested after the loss in the ATC Stakes and returned to win a maiden race at seven furlongs at Kembla Grange on Aug. 5. Two weeks later, she won a one-mile handicap at Newcastle, closing from fifth.

The race on the Kensington course on Tuesday evening is a logical progression for Mountain Ghost, who starts from post 3. Lee Magorrian, who has been aboard for Mountain Ghost’s two wins, has the mount.

Monfelicity will be a slight favorite over Mountain Ghost, judging from early betting.

A winner of 3 of 21 starts, Monfelicity won a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Hawkesbury on Aug. 17 against a lesser level of competition than she will face on Tuesday evening. Monfelicity was later second by slightly less than a half-length in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Aug. 26 against the same class level as this race.

This will be the 43rd start for Dr Evil, a six-time winner who was fifth of 11 in the same race as Monfelicity on Aug. 26 despite a wide trip. Dr Evil is winless in his last nine starts, since a win in a one-mile handicap at Randwick in February.

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