Australia: Ollie's Secret will go longer in Monday handicap

Ollie’s Secret ended his 2022 campaign with a win in a maiden race at a mile at Tamworth Racecourse in Australia on Christmas Eve, his sixth career start.

Ollie’s Secret did not start again until June 10, finishing fifth in a six-furlong handicap at Newcastle. He closed with interest to lose by 3 1/2 lengths in a manner that suggested a longer distance would be a better fit.

That opportunity arises in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Beaumont course at Newcastle Racecourse on Sunday evening. Ollie’s Secret, trained by Jan Bowen, is part of a competitive field of 11 in the second race on an eight-race program.

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Racing begins at 10:10 p.m. Eastern, or 7:10 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Ollie’s Secret will be ridden by Reece Jones, who has the mount for the first time. Jones is likely to have Ollie’s Secret in a stalking position from a rail draw.

Ollie’s Secret was 4-1 in early betting on Saturday morning, behind the 3-year-old fillies Cannoli and Yirrkala, who were both 3-1.

Cannoli was second in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Armidale Racecourse on June 6, closing from fifth in a field of 12 to lose by slightly less than three-quarters of a length. Similar to Ollie’s Secret, Cannoli can be a factor from off the pace.

Yirrkala won her debut in a five-furlong maiden race last November, and has lost her last four starts. She was fourth in a five-furlong handicap at Tamworth on June 9 in her second start of 2023, closing from eighth to lose by slightly more than 2 3/4 lengths.

The handicap at Newcastle will be Yirrkala’s longest race of the year. She set the pace in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs last December, and faded to finish fifth. In her other starts, Yirrkala has raced more effectively from off the pace.

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