Australia: Oh No Bro in top form for Monday handicap

With two wins in his last four starts, Oh No Bro has never been sharper in his 23-race career in Australia.

A 6-year-old gelding, Oh No Bro’s recent wins have come at one of the lower levels of the handicap division, a group he faces again in a one-mile handicap at Narromine Racecourse on Monday evening.

The only reason Oh No Bro’s weight assignment has not soared because of his recent success is the occasional booking of apprentice jockeys.

When Oh No Bro won a one-mile handicap at Mudgee on Sept. 3, he was ridden by apprentice jockey Chelsea Hillier, who carried 127.8 pounds instead of the original assignment of 132. At Narromine, apprentice Mitch Stapleford has the mount, knocking the assignment from 136.6 to 130 pounds.

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Even with the reduction, Oh No Bro is second in the weights behind the longshot Chapel Lane at 133.

Oh No Bro, who is trained by Stephen Jones, ended a seven-race losing streak since September 2022 with a win in a one-mile handicap at Coonamble Racecourse on June 18.

After finishing third and second by less than a length in races at Gunnison in July and Dubbo in August, Oh No Bro won at Mudgee.

Oh No Bro is part of a full field of 12 at Narromine. Oh No Bro will start from post 1, a position that will force Stapleford to work out a trip from off the pace in a large field.

Stapleford is a promising rider whose career began on Aug. 11. He won with 7 of his first 27 mounts through Sunday.

Sapphires Son and Seaside Sally, two other last-race winners, are part of the field at Narromine, and rank fairly high in the weights.

Sapphires Son, who will carry 133 pounds, ended a 24-race losing streak since September 2020 with a win in a one-mile handicap at Quirindi Racecourse on Aug. 26. Sapphires Son led throughout.

Seaside Sally, a 4-year-old filly, won for the second time in her seventh start in a handicap at seven furlongs at Queanbeyan Racecourse on Sept. 4 racing from a stalking position.

Narromine has an eight-race program beginning at 10:15 p.m. Eastern or 7:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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