Australia: Outside post in 15-horse field may force Bermadez to use his speed

Separated by nine months, Bermadez won his first two starts in Australia with diverse styles last August and on May 12.

A 4-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Bermadez led throughout a maiden race at 6 1/4 furlongs at Geelong Racecourse in August. In his return on May 12 at Pakenham, Bermadez closed from last of 11 to win a seven-furlong handicap by a short neck as the odds-on favorite.

The lack of a consistent running style is one of the few negatives surrounding Bermadez’s third start in a seven-furlong handicap at Sandown Racecourse on Wednesday. Trained by Michael Moroney, Bermadez will be ridden by Damien Oliver, who was aboard for the maiden race win last year.

Bermadez, by Tavistock, is part of a field of 15 in the seventh of eight races on a Sandown program that begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern, or 7:25 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Bermadez drew post 15, which may force Oliver to take a forward position to avoid a wide trip.

The closer Vibrant Glider has solid decent form in recent starts, and breaks from the inside. Trained by Phillip Stokes, Vibrant Glider was third, beaten about a head, in a seven-furlong handicap for 3-year-olds at Flemington Racecourse on May 15 in his first start since Jan. 1.

Vibrant Glider won a seven-furlong maiden race at Pakenham last November and a one-mile handicap at Cranbourne Racecourse last December, when he broke from the rail in a field of seven.

The 4-year-old gelding Vainly will start at seven furlongs for the first time at Sandown. Vainly has won six-furlong races twice in his last five starts, both at Mornington Racecourse – a maiden race last August and a six-furlong handicap on May 11 in his first start since October.

Vainly is in the midst of an active span, having finished third by a half-length in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on May 21. This will be his third start in slightly more than three weeks.