Australia: Never Second favored in Warwick Farm handicap

Jockeys Hugh Bowman, who famously rode the Australian supermare Winx from 2015 to 2018, and the journeyman Brodie Loy, who has won more than 400 races, each rode the filly Never Second to wins in Australia in December.

On Wednesday, apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons rides Never Second in a six-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney. The race drew a field of 11 and is restricted to apprentice jockeys.

Gibbons, who began his career in 2020, has won 135 races through Monday. Never Second is expected to be favored at Warwick Farm, though Quatenus, Tiny, and Twitch also have excellent chances.

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Never Second, trained by Annabel Neasham, will carry top weight of 131 pounds. A winner of 4 of 8 starts, Never Second won six-furlong handicaps at Kembla Grange under Loy on Dec. 11, and at Gosford Racecourse under Bowman on Dec. 29.

This will be Never Second’s first start at Warwick Farm, which has a seven-race program beginning at 10:20 p.m. Eastern or 7:20 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Tiny, trained by James Cummings, has been second in two starts at Warwick in her 12-race career, which includes two wins. Winless in her last nine starts, Tiny was third in a tougher handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Dec. 11. Race winner Bacchanalia returned to win the Gosforth Guineas at six furlongs on Dec. 29.

Cummings also starts Quatenus, who set the pace and was second to Authentic Jewel in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm on Dec. 22, losing by about 1 1/2 lengths. A winner of 2 of 5 starts, Authentic Jewel was later second in the Gosforth Guineas.

Twitch was third behind Authentic Jewel and Quatenus on Dec. 22 in her first start in a month and her fourth career race. Relatively unexposed, the 4-year-old Twitch could play a key role in this field as a closer, particularly if Never Second and Quatenus engage in a speed duel.