Australia: Old foes square off in handicap at Doomben

Quite a lot has happened since Mr Bellagio and Red Chase finished second and ninth in a handicap at Doomben Racecourse in Australia in late February. Much of it favorable.

Mr Bellagio and Red Chase both won consecutive races for the first time in their lengthy careers in April and May.

They meet for the first time in nearly three months in a seven-furlong handicap at Gold Coast Racecourse on Friday, approaching the race in top form. They have had remarkably similar results in recent weeks.

Mr Bellagio won a seven-furlong handicap on April 9 at Gold Coast Racecourse and a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on May 2 at Doomben.

Red Chase did not need as long to reach a double, winning a seven-furlong handicap on April 25 at Sunshine Coast and a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on May 9 at Doomben.

Both runners are closers and will carry 121 pounds in Friday’s race. First post time at Gold Coast is 9:42 p.m. Eastern, or 6:42 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday for the nine-race program. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

The weight assignment gives Mr Bellagio, a 6-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding, and Red Chase, a 4-year-old gelding, excellent chances.

Alward, a 7-year-old Irish-bred gelding, will carry top weight of 132 pounds. Alward won the listed ATC Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens last November, but is winless in four subsequent starts.

This is Alward’s second start of the Australian autumn. The seven-furlong distance Friday may be shorter than his preferred trip.

The distance suits Bold Warrior, a 4-year-old gelding who won consecutive starts at seven furlongs at Gold Coast in April before a fifth-place finish behind Red Chase on May 9 at Doomben.

Bold Warrior and Shauquin, seventh behind Mr Bellagio on April 9, are likely to race near the front.