Australia: Oceans of Stanima, jockey Fiona Sandkuhl team up again at Wangaratta

Oceans of Stanima was mired in an eight-race losing streak until he closed from off the pace to win a one-mile handicap at 6-1 at Albury Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 10.

The race marked the first time the 6-year-old gelding was ridden by apprentice jockey Fiona Sandkuhl, a partnership that continues in a handicap at about a mile at Wangaratta Racecourse on Thursday.

Sandkuhl, 22, is in her second year of riding and has won 31 races through Wednesday, including nine since the Australian season began on Aug. 1.

At Wangaratta, Oceans of Stanima is rated as a top contender along with Ghost Doctor and Mescaminto in a field of 12. Trained by Ben Brisbourne, Oceans of Stanima was assigned 132 pounds, but Sandkuhl’s allowance reduces the assignment to a more tolerable 125.6 pounds.

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A winner of 3 of 16 starts, Oceans of Stanima is well suited to the distance. Aside from the win at Albury, a career first on turf, Oceans of Stanima won consecutive starts at 7 3/4 furlongs on the synthetic track in August and September of 2021 at Cambridge Racecourse in New Zealand.

Oceans of Stanima was sent to Australia in late 2021.

While Oceans of Stanima is a closer, Ghost Dancer tends to run closer to the front. A winner of 10 of 67 starts, Ghost Dancer has been racing against much tougher rivals than he faces Thursday.

Ghost Dancer, winless in 12 starts since winning a one-mile handicap at Bendigo in October 2021, was assigned 132 pounds, but will be ridden by apprentice Kiran Quilty, reducing the assignment to 127.8.

Wangaratta has an eight-race program beginning at 9:20 p.m. Eastern or 6:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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