Australia: Mr Papera the one catch in Gosford handicap

Chances are the 5-year-old gelding Mr Papera will set the pace in a one-mile handicap at Gosford Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday evening. There is a good chance that will be a winning strategy against seven rivals.

Mr Papera led throughout a maiden race at 7 1/2 furlongs at Hawkesbury Racecourse on Sept. 7 in his 10th career start. At Gosford, Mr Papera is part of a field that does not have another committed front-runner, although the outsider Sonny Fella does race near the front at times.

Mr Papera is part of a small stable trained at Hawkesbury by Fabio Martino, who has started only seven horses in the last year.

The race at Gosford will be Mr Papera’s third start at a mile. He finished third and second in maiden races at the distance in August, losing by 1 1/4 lengths and slightly less than a half-length. At Gosford, Mr Papera will be ridden for the first time by Brandon Lerena.

Mr Papera will be tracked by the 4-year-old filly Majestic Style, who finished seventh by slightly more than 3 1/2 lengths in a one-mile handicap at Scone on Sept. 22 in her first start since July.

Majestic Style will have no problem with the distance at Gosford. She won a maiden race at about 1 1/8 miles last December, but is winless in six subsequent starts.

Highborn Harry is more of a threat from off the pace.

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A lightly raced 3-year-old gelding, Highborn Harry won his third start in a maiden race at seven furlongs at Kembla Grange in June against Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds and was fifth of eight in a six-furlong handicap against 3-year-olds at Warwick Farm on Sept. 20, closing from well of the pace to lose by 5 1/2 lengths.

This will be Highborn Harry’s first start against older horses.

Gosford has an eight-race program beginning at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, or 7:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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