Australia: New Zealand expats Mach Schnell, Sindacato meet at Warwick Farm

There are remarkable similarities in the career trajectory of the geldings Mach Schnell and Sindacato, who meet for the first time in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse outside of Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday.

Mach Schnell and Sindacato were bred in New Zealand, began their careers there, and were recently transferred to race in Australia.

Mach Schnell, a 5-year-old trained by Joe Pride, has finished fifth and first in his first two starts in Australia, and has won 3 of 14 starts in his career. On April 25, Mach Schnell closed from third in a field of five to win a seven-furlong handicap on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

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All three of Mach Schnell’s win have been at seven furlongs, including a handicap in New Zealand as recently as January.

Sindacato, trained by Chris Waller, will start at a mile for the first time at Warwick Farm. A winner of 2 of 6 starts, the 6-year-old Sindacato was fifth by 5 1/2 lengths in his Australian debut in a handicap at 6 ¾ furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in March.

In the last month, Sindacato has been given two gate workouts, or barrier trials, which are designed to replicate race conditions. On Friday at Rosehill Gardens, Sindacato finished second of seven in such a barrier trial at 4 1/2 furlongs.

Lightly raced for his age, Sindacato won consecutive starts at seven furlongs in New Zealand in June and December of 2021 in his second and third starts.

The Warwick Farm race drew a field of nine and is the fourth race on a seven-race program that begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

In the handicap conditions, Mach Schnell will carry 129 pounds, slightly more than Sindacato at 125.6.

The topweight is the highly capable Bethencourt, who will carry 132 pounds and has won two of his last three starts.

Bethencourt won a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park in February, and finished ninth of 10 in a handicap at about 1 3/16 miles at Newcastle in March. He rebounded to win a handicap at the more suitable distance of seven furlongs at Randwick on April 23.