Australia: Mr Cancun returns from layoff at shortest distance of his career

Mr Cancun has been favored in five career starts in Australia since December, winning twice in that span. The streak may end when Mr Cancun returns from a layoff of more than four months in a handicap at 5 3/4 furlongs at Geelong Racecourse on Friday.

A 3-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Mr Cancun has not started since a third-place finish by 2 1/2 lengths as the 5-2 choice in a one-mile handicap at Caulfield Racecourse on Feb. 1.

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The loss, a gap between races, and the presence of a few talented rivals may lead bettors to prefer other runners in Friday’s race, which will be the shortest of Mr Cancun’s career. Mr Cancun, who will carry 127.8 pounds, won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 3 and a handicap at about 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 23.

Trained by Lindsay Smith, Mr Cancun races as a stalker and is part of a solid field of 10 on Friday. Several runners are returning from layoffs or have limited recent starts.

A Good Yarn, winless in three starts since December, will carry top weight of 137.7 pounds. He was second in a handicap on the synthetic track at Ballarat Racecourse on May 28 in his first start since early February.

Widespread, a winner of 3 of 7 starts, will have his first race since December when he finished last of eight in the Steere Classic Stakes at seven furlongs at Ascot Racecourse. Widespread, the winner of consecutive starts in sprints last November, will carry 132 pounds.

Sham I Am, a 4-year-old gelding, has not raced since a win in a lesser handicap at six furlongs at Geelong on Dec. 26. Sham I Am, who will carry 127.8 pounds, may set the pace.

Geelong is familiar territory for The Last Napoleon, who will carry 134.4 pounds. The Last Napoleon won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Geelong in April 2019 in his only start at the venue. The Last Napoleon has not raced since a fifth-place finish in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield in January.

The nine-race Geelong program begins at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, or 7:30 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.