Australia: Our City ready to show distance races may be her thing

In early July, the Australian filly Our City finished a fast-closing third in her first start against winners in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles.

On Sunday evening, she starts in a highly competitive handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Bathurst Racecourse with a chance to show distance races can be the focus of her career.

A winner of 2 of 8 starts, Our City followed the third-place finish at Tamworth on July 7 with a fifth-place finish in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 31, and a win in a one-mile handicap at Narromine Racecourse on Aug. 20. In the latter race, Our City showed her customary closing style to reach the front, winning by a length at 25-1.

The race at Bathurst will be a stamina test against a field with several contenders. Our City, trained by Michael Lunn, starts from post 9 in a full field of 12.

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Whetu and Xcited were early co-favorites at 5-2 as of Saturday morning, ahead of Chaotic Beauty at 6-1. Our City and Rupertson were next, at 7-1.

Whetu, a 6-year-old gelding, is winless in his last six starts, including a second by six lengths in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Goulburn Racecourse on Aug. 14 as the 5-2 favorite. Whetu tends to run from off the pace.

Xcited will start at 1 1/4 miles for the first time in his seventh start. A two-time winner, Xcited won a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Bathurst in January.

Xcited, who tends to run near the front, was rested from mid-March to late July. Since his comeback, Xcited has finished 12th of 13 and 7th of nine against tougher competition.

A drop in class should help Xcited, who will be fitted with blinkers for the first time.

Bathurst has a seven-race program beginning at 11:25 p.m. Eastern or 8:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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