Australia: Our Bellagio Miss legged up for strong effort at Royal Randwick

Our Bellagio Miss managed a second-place finish at 20-1 in a five-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 21 in her first start in nearly four months.

Our Bellagio Miss was beaten two lengths by Hulk, the 7-2 second choice in a field of nine. For Our Bellagio Miss, the loss should serve as an ideal prep for a five-furlong handicap on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Friday.

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Trained by Gregory Hickman, Our Bellagio Miss won three of four starts from late May to late July, showing the versatility to lead throughout or stalk the pace. Those four races were run at distances ranging from five to six furlongs.

In Friday’s race, Our Bellagio Miss will break from post 10 in a field of 13 and has an almost certain target in the speed filly Emilette. A winner of 4 of 12 starts, Emilette has won two of her last four starts since early October. On Nov. 18 at Wyong Racecourse, Emilette led throughout a five-furlong handicap, her third win in seven starts at the distance.

Our Bellagio Miss (3-1) and Emilette (4-1) dominated early betting for Friday’s race as of Wednesday.

The seven-race Kensington program begins at 11:10 p.m., Eastern, or 8:10 p.m., Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Race conditions should suit Perigord, who has not raced since a fifth-place finish at Canterbury Park in September. Perigord is capable of a late kick that could carry him into contention in the final furlong.

Invincible Lad, a three-time winner at five furlongs, is likely to be close to the front in the first half of the race. Invincible Lad has been second in his last two starts, more recently in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm Racecourse on Nov. 25.