Australia: Pier Pressure hopes to continue turnaround in Belle of the Turf

Pier Pressure was struggling through a nine-race losing streak when she won a low-level handicap at Australia's Scone Racecourse as the 1-5 favorite on Nov. 19.

The race has revitalized her career.

A 4-year-old filly, Pier Pressure has won twice since then against better rivals, leading to her eighth appearance in a stakes in Monday’s Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes at a mile for fillies and mares at Wyong Racecourse.

Third in the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Stakes at a mile for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in April 2023, Pier Pressure is unlikely to have an easy race in the $186,100 Belle of the Turf Stakes, which drew a field of 12.

The race lacked a clear favorite as of Sunday morning, with Chica Mojita (4-1) a slight favorite over Aberlour (9-2) and Pier Pressure and Redbreast (5-1).

Pier Pressure, trained by Kris Lees, tends to race near the front, and occasionally has set the pace. The versatile tactics should work in the Belle of the Turf. Pier Pressure, who will be ridden by Tyler Schiller, starts from post 4.

Chica Mojito has won only once in 16 starts, and was second by a nose to Pier Pressure in a lucrative handicap at a mile for Southern Hemisphere 3- and 4-year-olds at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Dec. 14. Both Pier Pressure and Chica Mojito raced in traffic in the stretch of that race.

Aberlour, a New Zealand-bred filly, is quick enough to lead. She was a three-time winner in New Zealand in January and February, including two stakes, but is winless in three starts in Australia since late June.

Aberlour set the pace in a seven-furlong handicap at Randwick on Dec. 14 before losing by slightly less than a length.

A fast pace will help the chances of Konasana, who was 6-1 as of Sunday. A Group 3 winner at seven furlongs in April, Konasana is winless in her last four starts, a span that includes a third in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes at seven furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Nov. 3.

Wyong has a seven-race program beginning at 9:10 p.m. Eastern or 6:10 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.