Australia: Rainbiel returns from freshening in realistic spot at Swan Hill

A break during the Southern Hemisphere winter in recent months may be what Rainbiel needs to return to her form from this time last year.

Friday at Swan Hill Racecourse, Rainbiel starts for the first time since May in a minor handicap at six furlongs that appears much easier than her appearances in high-level handicaps and group-level stakes earlier this year.

Friday’s race will be Rainbiel’s first start since a sixth by 3 1/4 lengths in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Morphettville Racecourse in May. The loss was preceded by a game second by a nose in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares at Caulfield Racecourse on April 10.

Rainbiel is trained by Anthony Chibnall and has won 2 of 10 starts. A filly quick enough to lead or stalk the pace, Rainbiel won consecutive races last September and October in the third and fourth starts of her career.

Jockey Dean Holland has ridden Rainbiel in her last nine starts and has the mount at Swan Hill against a maximum field of 14. Rainbiel will be favored, although Ocular and Lombardo have recent races that look attractive in this field.

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Ocular, a 5-year-old gelding, was second in a lucrative handicap against a tougher field going six furlongs at Moonee Valley on Aug. 21, closing from last to miss by a head. A winner of 4 of 19 starts, Ocular is winless in his last five races, although the Aug. 21 race is difficult to criticize.

Lombardo may set the pace, a style that led to consecutive wins in June and July as the odds-on favorite at Morphettville. Lombardo has since finished sixth and eighth, with no apparent excuses, according to post-race stewards reports.

Swan Hill has an eight-race program beginning at 10:55 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.