Australia: Nasdaq Dubai returns off maiden win in handicap at Kembla Grange

A layoff of nearly two years was no trouble for Nasdaq Dubai in Australia earlier this month. Unraced since mid-February of 2021, Nasdaq Dubai won a five-furlong maiden race by a convincing 2 1/4 lengths at Kembla Grange on Jan. 14.

The 4-year-old returns in a five-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange on Monday evening. The handicap is the second of seven races on a program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Trained by the partnership of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Nasdaq Dubai was the 2-1 second choice in early betting on Sunday behind 8-5 Insurrection. This will be Nasdaq Dubai’s third start. He was sixth of 10 in the Lonhro Plate in February 2021 at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

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In the recent maiden race win, Nasdaq Dubai closed from fourth in a field of seven.

Insurrection is quick enough to lead, but often races from a stalking position. A 3-year-old, Insurrection won his debut in a five-furlong race last April and is winless in his last seven starts.

Insurrection did finish first in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm on Oct. 3, but was disqualified from the prize money for a medication violation.

Nasdaq Dubai and Insurrection are part of a field of 10 that includes the lightly raced filly Rotorua, who has won once in three starts.

Rotorua won her second start, which came in a maiden race for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs at Nowra Racecourse on Dec. 4, and closed in the stretch to finish second by a head in a handicap for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs at Wyong Racecourse on Jan. 18.

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