Australia: Osipenko aims to end losing skid in January Cup

Osipenko, the 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding who starts in Friday’s $124,200 January Cup at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia, is winless in 16 starts since May 2023.

It’s a harsh statistic, and not necessarily a true indication of Osipenko’s recent performances.

On Dec. 26, Osipenko was second by nose in the Summer Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, leading in the stretch before being caught at the wire. Osipenko carried 122.3 pounds compared to 116.8 for race winner Tavi Time.

The weight assignment is not much friendlier for Osipenko in the January Cup, which drew a field of nine. The listed level stakes is the seventh race on a 10-race program that begins at 8:30 p.m. Eastern or 5:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Osipenko, from the stable of top Australian trainer Chris Waller, will carry 130 pounds, three more than Converge. The other runners in the field will carry 116.8 or 118 pounds.

Osipenko has a high handicap rating because he was a two-time group stakes winner in 2023, and has frequently raced in group level stakes or lucrative races in Australia in the last 20 months. He was seventh of 20 in the Group 2 Ingham Stakes at 100-1 at Randwick on Dec. 14, losing by slightly more than two lengths.

In the January Cup, Osipenko has one principal rival in stablemate Saltcoats, the winner of two lucrative handicap at 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/4 miles at Randwick in December. Saltcoats, who will carry 118 pounds in the January Cup, is a closer.

Osipenko is more versatile, showing the ability to race near the front and from well of the pace in recent starts.

Converge is more of an outsider in the January Cup. He was second by 3 1/4 lengths in the ATC Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 30 and fourth in the Summer Cup, losing by slightly less than 3 1/2 lengths.

A 6-year-old gelding, Converge has won 4 of 34 starts, but is winless in 23 starts since the Group 1 Randwick Guineas in March 2022.

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