Australia: Petronius tops Royal Randwick feature

The last time the gelding Petronius won came last May at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, and his trainer, John Moore, was in his final months of a decades-long career as a trainer in Hong Kong.

Moore, 70, was not allowed to renew his license in Hong Kong when the 2019-20 season ended there in July because of age limitations. Moore, the all-time leading trainer in Hong Kong, returned to his native Australia and joined his brother Gary in a joint training operation.

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The relationship will end soon, with John Moore expected to develop his own stable with his son George, according to recent media reports in Australia.

Meanwhile, Gary and John Moore continue training together. Wednesday, they start Petronius in a seven-furlong handicap on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

Petronius is winless in five starts since May when trained solely by Gary Moore. A 4-year-old, Petronius was a game third by a little less than a length in a seven-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm on March 3, his first start since early November.

Petronius will be ridden by Nash Rawiller, who was aboard for the March 3 race and two other recent starts. Petronius, who tends to run near the front, is part of a field of 11 that includes the mares Amitto and Madam Legend.

Amitto has not raced since September and is winless in three starts since a victory in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm last April, the second of consecutive wins. Trained by James Cummings, Amitto tends to run from off the pace.

Madam Legend, a winner of 4 of 12 starts for trainer Les Bridge, has shown the ability to race as a stalker or from farther back. Madam Legend was eighth in a seven-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm on March 3, finishing five lengths behind The Irishman, who returned to finish second in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Madam Legend won a seven-furlong handicap at Kensington last July.

The Kensington program begins at 10:45 p.m., Eastern, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.