Australia: Ready to Humble should get good trip in Wodonga Cup
A stalking style has been a valuable asset for the Australian gelding Ready to Humble, who has won 6 of 17 starts.
A 5-year-old, Ready to Humble came from a few lengths off the pace to win the Snake Gully Cup at seven furlongs at Gundagai Racecourse on Nov. 12 as the 5-2 favorite. The same tactic could work in Friday’s $71,900 Wodonga Cup at about a mile at Wodonga Racecourse, located northeast of Melbourne.
Ready to Humble, who drew post 12 in a field of 14, may have a pace to follow from Akecheta, who drew the rail, and Brazen Song. They are likely to be the first two in the betting, but do not have ideal post positions. Ready to Humble was an intriguing 6-1 as of Wednesday.
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Ready to Humble, trained by Nick Olive, ended a four-race losing streak that began in late July at Gundagai. During that span, Ready to Humble was second or third in three races, including two starts at a mile.
Akecheta, a 7-year-old gelding, won a one-mile handicap at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on Nov. 12 for his sixth win in his 26th start. Akecheta was second or third in his four previous starts, always disputing the pace, and ended a seven-race losing streak at Moonee Valley.
Brazen Song, a 5-year-old mare, is in the midst of a busy campaign, having started six times since returning from a seven-month layoff in early September.
This will be Brazen’s Song third start of November, preceded by a third at 50-1 in the $370,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final on Nov. 4, a race restricted to horses based with trainers in the Australian countryside.
More recently, Brazen Song was fifth in an allowance race for fillies and mares at a mile at Cranbourne Racecourse on Nov. 13.
In both races, Brazen Song set the pace. In the Wodonga Cup, Brazen Song drew the outside. The race starts from a chute adjacent to the first turn, and joins the main turf course as the field reaches the backstretch.
Jockey Lachlan King is likely to urge Brazen Song forward in the first furlong to gain position and avoid a wide trip when the field reaches the main course. If Brazen Song can save some ground early, she has every chance to play a role in the outcome.
The Wodonga Cup is part of an eight-race program that begins at 9:20 p.m. Eastern or 6:20 p.m. Pacific on Thanksgiving. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.