Australia: Night Guy will be much shorter price this time

Night Guy was dismissed at 20-1 at Geelong Racecourse in Australia on Sept. 6, the day he closed from last of 11 to win a seven-furlong handicap.

Night Guy won for the second time in his seven-race career that day. The victory has made the gelding the focus of a handicap at about six furlongs at Geelong on Thursday. In a field of 10, Night Guy may be a slight favorite over the equally-appealing gelding Abiding.

The handicap is the sixth race on an eight-race program that begins at 11:30 p.m. Eastern, or 8:30 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Night Guy, a 4-year-old Australian-bred, was a longshot on Sept. 6 after finishing 10th of 12 in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 21 at Bendigo, his first start since January. Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr., Night Guy runs from off the pace.

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Abiding often sets the pace, which is common for horses trained by the partnership of Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse. Abiding set the pace in a seven-furlong handicap on Sept. 17 at Echuca, in his first start since March. He led to the final furlong before finishing second by 1 1/4 lengths.

Abiding has had five starts with one victory – a maiden race as the odds-on favorite at seven furlongs at Canberra in February.

Under the handicap conditions of Thursday’s race, Night Guy shares top weight of 132 pounds with Magnolia Man and Medieval Miss. Abiding will carry 129 pounds.

Magnolia Man has won 2 of 6 starts, with the victories last December and January in a span of two days in maiden races in New Zealand. Because Magnolia Man had been declared to run on Jan. 1, he was allowed to run in a second maiden race after winning a similar race on Dec. 30, a circumstance that would not be allowed in most countries.

Magnolia Man was ninth of 11 in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Bendigo Racecourse on Sept. 16.