Australia: Mr Cancun will feel right at home in Koroit Cup

Mr Cancun could easily be on a three-race winning streak in Australia in the last two months.

A 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Mr Cancun won a handicap at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Nov. 17 and was beaten a nose and a head in two starts in December.

The consistent record makes Mr Cancun the expected favorite in Sunday’s Koroit Cup at 1 1/16 miles at Warrnambool Racecourse west of Melbourne.

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Trained by Lindsey Smith, Mr Cancun is part of a field of seven on a course he knows well. Smith is based at Warnambool. Mr Cancun has started four times at Warrnambool, winning once and finishing second three times.

On Dec. 31 in his last start, Mr Cancun finished second by a nose in the Woodford Cup at 1 1/16 miles at Warrnambool, closing from last in a field of nine as the 9-5 favorite.

In the Koroit Cup, Mr Cancun will be ridden by Declan Bates, who was aboard the Dec. 31 race.

With a closing style, Mr Cancun is reliant on a pace to follow and is likely to be in pursuit of the 4-year-old filly Glassey Miss.

A winner of 5 of 20 starts, Glassey Miss won a seven-furlong handicap at Warrnambool on Dec. 9 and was third in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Racecourse on Dec. 22. Glassey Miss has not won beyond seven furlongs and will start at 1 1/16 miles for the first time in the Koroit Cup.

The distance is well within range for Dubai Dominion, who won the Nhill Cup at about a mile at tiny Nhill Racecourse on Dec. 26.

Warrnambool is far from England and France where Dubai Dominion raced in 2018 and 2019, finishing second and third in two starts.

Dubai Dominion has won 4 of 27 starts in his career.

Warrnambool has an eight-race program beginning at 9:20 p.m. Eastern or 6:20 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.