Australia: Oakfield Prince may find good fit in one-mile handicap

The lightly raced gelding Oakfield Prince has shown significant improvement in Australia in recent months.

A 3-year-old, Oakfield Prince has won 2 of 4 starts, including his most recent start in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie Racecourse on May 31. Oakfield Prince closed from fourth to win by a little more than three-quarters of a length in the longest race of his brief career.

On Monday at Taree Racecourse, Oakfield Prince will race slightly farther in a one-mile handicap that drew a field of 10. The distance appears to be a good fit for Oakfield Prince.

The eight-race program at Taree begins at 10:10 p.m. Eastern, or 7:10 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Trained by Damien Lane, Oakfield Prince will have his first start at Taree. He began his career with a maiden-race win at about 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Jan. 7 and did not race again until April 26, when he finished sixth in a six-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie. Oakfield Prince was second in a seven-furlong handicap at Tuncurry Racecourse on May 15 before the win on May 31.

Oakfield Prince has been effective from the front or as a stalker.

It is likely Oakfield Prince will race as a stalker behind Vanbari, a contender who has won 2 of 8 starts.

Vanbari won a one-mile handicap at Gatton Racecourse on April 23, but was not as effective in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Toowoomba Racecourse on May 8, racing near the front before fading to finish fourth. The race at Taree appears to be a more suitable distance for the 3-year-old gelding.

Kris Lees trains Vanbari as well as another contender in Blazing Sunrise, who has finished fifth and eighth in slightly tougher races at Newcastle since May 22.