Newcastle

Australia: Perfect Thought should have perfect conditions in Monday handicap

Steve Andersen|Oct 09, 2022

With four starts, Perfect Thought has the least experience of the 15 runners in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Monday evening across American time zones.

A 3-year-old, Perfect Thought has won once, and should have race conditions could be in his favor at Newcastle. Perfect Thought will start at 7 1/2 furlongs for the first time, having finished fourth by 4 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong handicap at Newcastle on Sept. 24.

Perfect Thought was so wide through the stretch that he was closer to the outside fence than the rail. He seemed to find his best stride in the final furlong.

Trained by John Sargent, Perfect Thought will be ridden for the first time by William Pike and breaks from post 6.

Perfect Thought was 9-2 in early betting as of early Sunday, the same price as Concocted. Cool Lad was the 4-1 favorite.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Concocted has appealing credentials, considering the 4-year-old gelding is being given a drop in class following a second in a six-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 10, and a 10th of 14 in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at the same venue on Sept. 24.

A winner of 2 of 9 starts, Concocted is starting at 7 1/2 furlongs for the first time. Similar to Perfect Thought, Concocted is a threat from off the pace.

Cool Lad, a winner of 2 of 14 starts, was fourth in the same race as Concocted on Sept. 24, losing by three-quarters of a length. He tends to race as a stalker, and can end a six-race losing streak at Newcastle.

Cool Lad won consecutive starts in January – a maiden race at seven furlongs and a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs in a nine-day span. Those are his only two victories in 14 starts.

Newcastle has an eight-race program beginning at 10:35 p.m. Eastern or 7:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.