Australia: Powerful Peg plenty versatile in handicap

With the benefit of a recent prep race, Powerful Peg looks well-placed to add to her prolific race record in a lucrative seven-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening.

A winner of 6 of 15 starts, Powerful Peg was second by a neck in a six-furlong handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 30 in her first start since late August.

A 4-year-old filly, Powerful Peg has shown versatile running styles, racing near the front and from well off the pace. The adaptability can help Powerful Peg in a field of eight at Rosehill Gardens.

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The well-regarded gelding Danaustar is likely to set the pace, but could face pressure from the longshot Mission Phoenix, who has shown speed at times in races at a mile or more.

Danaustar had a two-race winning streak end with a second by slightly more than a half-length in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on Dec. 23. Danaustar won his two preceding starts at six and seven furlongs by setting the pace.

The gelding Excelladus will be in a good position should a quick pace develop. Excelladus ended an eight-race losing streak with an upset win at 11-1 in a seven-furlong handicap at Randwick on Jan. 6, closing from fourth to reach the front well before the finish.

The race represented a class jump for Excelladus from his previous starts. For the win, Excelladus will carry 127.8 pounds at Rosehill Gardens compared to 122.3 at Randwick.

Powerful Peg will carry 122.3 pounds in the Friday evening race, a light weight that should help her chances for her first win since a seven-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens in August.

She is the preferred selection over Excelladus and Danaustar.

Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern or 5:30 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.