Australia: Raid the Bar in good position for Tuesday handicap

Raid the Bar had a two-race winning streak end abruptly with a last-place finish among nine in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Dec. 22.

Raid the Bar broke from the outside post, raced wide and faded through the stretch. After the race, jockey Jake Noonan told stewards that Raid the Bar would have been better suited racing behind rivals.

A 4-year-old, Raid the Bar may get that sort of trip in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Stony Creek Racecourse on Tuesday. Raid the Bar will break from post 6 of 10, which should enable apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray to give the gelding a favorable position.

Gaudray could do with a win. Since returning from suspension on Dec. 10, Gaudray has a single win from 43 mounts through Sunday. Gaudray, 20, was suspended from late August to early December in a high-profile case for attending a party in the Melbourne area in August that was in violation of the state of Victoria’s laws pertaining to crowd gatherings during the pandemic.

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Raid the Bar will carry 137.7 pounds, slightly less than Royal Volley, who has topweight of 141. Trained by Sharyn Trolove, Raid the Bar won a maiden race at 1 3/16 miles at Taree on Nov. 28 in his ninth start, and rebounded a week later to beat winners for the first time in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Bairnsdale Racecourse.

Raid the Bar and Royal Volley are expected to lead the betting in the sixth of eight races at Stony Creek, which is located southeast of Melbourne. The program begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Royal Volley should handle the distance, considering the 8-year-old gelding’s recent form. Royal Volley won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Kilmore Racecourse in late October, but is winless in his last three starts. Royal Volley was fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles at Yaree Valley on Dec. 28. Jack Hill, who was aboard for the win at Kilmore, has the mount.

Manhattan Sting can be a factor from off the pace. A winner of 3 of 24 starts, Manhattan Spring was second by two lengths in a handicap at about 1 1/8 miles at Terang Racecourse on Dec. 20, racing closest to the front at the finish.

A 5-year-old gelding, Manhattan Sting has won twice at 1 3/8 miles in his career.