Australia: Pat's Nipper sitting on peak effort in Gunnedah handicap

Pat’s Nipper returned from a four-month layoff to finish a decent fourth in a handicap at Moree Racecourse in Australia on July 16.

The recent outing should allow Pat’s Nipper to show improvement in his second start after the rest in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Gunnedah Racecourse on Tuesday.

Pat’s Nipper has won his second race after layoffs once in three such situations in his 19-race career, which includes five wins. A 6-year-old Australian-bred gelding, Pat’s Nipper will have his first start at Gunnedah on Tuesday and will be ridden for the first time by apprentice jockey Casey Waddell.

The booking of Waddell lowers the weight assignment to 122.3 pounds, well below top weight of Burbank at 134.4 pounds.

Burbank, a 5-year-old gelding, has won 4 of 21 starts and has not raced since a seventh of 14 in the Tamworth Cup at seven furlongs on April 26, a much tougher field than Tuesday’s Gunnedah handicap.

Burbank won his only previous start at Gunnedah, in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs in March, carrying top weight of 132 pounds in that field of 13.

Tuesday, Burbank carries slightly more than All From Scrap, who has been third in his last two starts and is winless in his last 14 races since January 2019.

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The handicap is part of a seven-race program that begins at 11:10 p.m. Eastern, or 8:10 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. Gunnedah Racecourse is located in the state of New South Wales, far north of Sydney in the Australian countryside.

Of the lower-weighted horses in the handicap, the 6-year-old gelding Ratler could be well-spotted. Ratler was third by 1 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong handicap at Tamworth on July 24 in his first start since February. Ratler has won four times in his 18-race career at distances ranging from seven furlongs to a mile.

Ratler will carry 116.8 pounds and will be ridden by apprentice jockey Reece Jones, who has won with five of his last 50 mounts.

Similar to Pat’s Nipper and Burbank, Ratler is a threat from off the pace.