Australia: Plenty of speed in Orange Racecourse feature on Monday
The fourth race at Orange Racecourse in Australia on Monday is run at five furlongs and will almost certainly have a furious pace. For some runners, the distance could be a stretch.
The appropriately named Just a Flash has raced at a half-mile and 4 1/2 furlongs in his last three starts, and was 11th of 12 in a handicap at five furlongs at Royal Randwick on May 23, his most recent start at the distance.
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Chevron Prince won consecutive starts in handicaps at 4 1/2 furlongs in May and June, but was sixth in a five-furlong handicap at Muswellbrook on July 3. He rebounded to finish second in a handicap at 4 3/4 furlongs at Moree Racecourse on July 16.
Understandably, those runners are quick and could serve as pacesetters in Monday’s race for the 5-year-old mare I Stole Your Love, who shares top weight of 134.4 pounds with Just a Flash. I Stole Your Love, trained by Roy McCabe, has not raced since a win in a six-furlong handicap at Bathurst in April, her sixth victory in 24 starts.
I Stole Your Love was assigned 138.8 pounds, but the booking of apprentice jockey Ashleigh Stanley reduces the assignment. Stanley was aboard for the April win. I Stole Your Love won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Orange last November in her only previous start at the track. Her six wins have come at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to 6 1/2 furlongs.
Just a Flash has won 4 of 16 starts, with the wins at distances ranging from a half-mile to 4 3/4 furlongs.
Orange Racecourse, which is located more than a three-hour drive west of Sydney, has a 10-race program on Monday, beginning at 10:05 p.m., Eastern, or 7:05 p.m., Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
The five-furlong handicap drew a field of eight.