Australia: Pretty Eyed hoping for same results at longer distance

Pretty Eyed’s career changed in Australia when she was tried at a mile last month.

After finishing second in her debut at the distance in early August, Pretty Eyed won two consecutive starts at a mile in a maiden race and a handicap, both at Moruya Racecourse.

Those wins have been the foundation for a new objective, her first start at about 1 5/16 miles in a handicap at Goulburn Racecourse on Thursday evening.

The winning streak can easily be extended if Pretty Eyed shows her usual closing style which worked against maidens on Aug. 20 and in her debut against winners on Sept. 12.

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Pretty Eyed is trained by Ken Dryden, who had won with 11 of his last 50 runners from Aug. 12 through Wednesday, including a four-win day at Canberra last Friday.

Pretty Eyed is part of a field of eight in the first of eight races on a Goulburn program that begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern or 7:50 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The runner to catch may be the 9-year-old Outahand, who won for the fourth time in his 35th career start in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Gundagai Racecourse on Sept. 10, leading throughout. Outahand has won at 1 1/4 miles – in a handicap at Albury in February 2022 - and was a decent fourth by 1 2/3 lengths in his most recent start at the distance at Bathurst on Aug. 28 in the start prior to the win at Gundagai.

Outahand does not always set the pace, and the versatile tactics may be a help if Dubai Showgirl shows speed. She was second to Outahand at Gundagai by 1 1/2 lengths on Sept. 10 and was beaten a nose after setting the pace in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Moruya on Aug. 20.

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