Australia: With race under his belt, Briseur de Couer set to improve in handicap at Geelong

There were positive aspects of the fifth-place finish by Briseur de Couer in a six-furlong handicap at Mornington Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 27.

Briseur de Coeur set the pace and was beaten only a length in his first start in more than 50 weeks, continuing a span of decent form the gelding showed in December of 2019 and January of 2020.

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Those results, plus the recent comeback, make him a worthy contender in a six-furlong handicap at Geelong Racecourse on Sunday.

Trained by Mitchell Freedman, Briseur de Coeur does not need to set the pace to run well, and could easily have a formidable target at Geelong in Mister Dynamix, who won a maiden race at seven furlongs at Warrnambool Racecourse on Dec. 17, and a handicap at about 7 1/4 furlongs at Geelong on Jan. 7.

In those races, Mister Dynamix set the pace.

Briseur de Coeur and Mister Dynamix will lead the betting in the handicap at Geelong, which is located outside of Melbourne. The race drew a field of nine and is the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 9:20 p.m., Eastern, or 6:20 p.m., Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.

Briseur de Coeur, a 5-year-old Australian-bred who has one win in seven starts, will start for the first time at Geelong as will Frisson, a maiden race winner at 4-5 in his sixth start in a six-furlong race at Kilmore Racecourse on Jan. 12.

Frisson drew the rail at Geelong, and has shown the ability to race near the front or from off the pace, options that could be vital in the opening furlong for jockey Damien Thornton.