Australia: Prospero heads handicap at Coffs Harbour

Prospero won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Hawkesbury Racecourse in Australia last November, and won a one-mile handicap at Port Macquarie Racecourse in April.

Those are the highlights of the 5-year-old gelding’s career in the last six months, and on Friday he appears in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Coffs Harbour Racecourse on the Australian East Coast on Friday.

Trained by Nathan Doyle, Prospero has won three times in his 15-race career. At Port Macquarie in April, Prospero won a one-mile handicap in a 10-1 upset, closing from last in a field of 11. Prospero has since finished ninth and sixth in handicaps at 1 1/8 miles at Newcastle Racecourse on April 22 and May 8, losing both races by approximately 4 1/2 lengths.

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Prospero will carry top weight of 130 pounds, and will start from the rail. The gelding is not speed-reliant, which should allow jockey Lee Magorrian to find a stalking trip for Prospero in the first half of the race.

Continuation, a 5-year-old gelding, and Casirina, a 3-year-old gelding, are well regarded in early betting, but similar to Prospero have something to prove considering their recent form. None of the nine entrants won their last start.

The Coffs Harbour program begins at 9:20 p.m., Eastern, or 6:20 p.m., Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Continuation, trained by Kris Lees, has won 3 of 28 starts, but is winless in 16 starts since a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Gosford Park in November 2019. Continuation has won at 1 5/16 miles earlier in his career, but was eighth in a handicap at about 1 3/16 miles at Newcastle on May 1, fading from contention after setting the pace.

Casirina has not won beyond about 1 1/16 miles, but was an encouraging second in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Tuncurry Racecourse last September. Casirina was fourth as the 8-5 favorite in a one-mile handicap at Taree Racecourse on May 11, losing by 2 1/4 lengths after racing in seventh-place in the first half of the race.

Casirina finished with some interest, suggesting this longer trip will be a better fit.