Australia: Private Detective can launch first win streak with Tuesday handicap

Private Detective won a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Orange Racecourse on Dec. 14 to end a 10-race losing streak since January.

Orange may develop into a friendly venue for Private Detective, a 5-year-old gelding.

That race was Private Detective’s first start at Orange. On Tuesday, Private Detective has an excellent chance to win consecutive races for the first time in his career when he starts against a slightly tougher field than his last start in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Orange.

Trained by Gregory Hickman, Private Detective won the Dec. 14 race by a little more than 2 3/4 lengths, closing from fifth in a field of 12 for his fourth win in 24 starts.

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In Tuesday’s race, Private Detective is likely to be a slight favorite over the 5-year-old mare La Tigresa and 4-year-old filly Sprout Wings. Apprentice jockey Jackson Searle retains the mount on Private Detective for a fourth consecutive race.

Distances races have become the norm for Private Detective in recent starts.

Searle rode Private Detective to a third in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Scone on Nov. 15 and a seventh in a handicap at 1 7/16 miles at Newcastle on Nov. 28 before the breakthrough win.

La Tigresa is winless in eight starts, but was a game third in the Armidale Cup at a mile at Tamworth Racecourse on Dec. 12, closing from fifth to miss by three-quarters of a length. La Tigresa has never won beyond seven furlongs, but she should handle this longer distance considering the way she finished in the Armidale Cup.

Sprout Wings is making a fairly rapid turnaround following a second by a head in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Goulburn Racecourse on Dec. 17. Sprout Wings is winless in eight starts since a maiden-race victory at Canterbury Park in June 2020. The recent loss at Goulburn was her first start at 1 5/16 miles.

Orange Racecourse has a seven-race program beginning at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, or 7:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.