Australia: Ready to Humble's connections opt for Mudgee Cup over Wodonga Cup

Ready to Humble has not raced in Australia since a win in the Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai Racecourse on Nov. 12, although that was not the intended plan for November.

Ready to Humble was scratched from the Wodonga Cup on Nov. 26 in favor of Friday’s Mudgee Cup at a mile at Mudgee Racecourse. Ready to Humble was an early favorite for the Wodonga Cup. He is likely to have a similar role in a competitive running of the Mudgee Cup.

The Mudgee Cup has drawn a full field of 14, including the 7-year-old gelding Highly Desired and 5-year-old gelding Invincible Dash, who have run well in recent months.

Ready to Humble, trained by Nick Olive, ended a four-race losing streak in the Snake Gully Cup at seven furlongs, stalking the pace before winning by 1 1/4 lengths. The distance of the Mudgee Cup may be a slight test. Ready to Humble has won at 7 1/2 furlongs, but is winless in five starts at a mile in a 17-race career that includes six wins.

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Highly Desired has won 2 of 11 starts at a mile and 7 of 34 starts in his career. Highly Desired won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Goulburn on Oct. 9, and was sixth of 18 in the Four Pillars Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Oct. 30.

The Four Pillars Stakes is restricted to horses based with smaller and mid-sized trainers in the state of New South Wales, with eligibility determined by the number of wins or placings by a trainer at major tracks in the last year.

Highly Desired followed that loss with a good second to Heza Gentleman in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park on Nov. 12. Heza Gentleman returned to win another handicap at Canterbury on Nov. 26.

Invincible Dash, a closer, won a one-mile handicap at Goulburn on Oct. 31, and followed with a fourth by 1 1/4 lengths in the Country Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Nov. 6.

The Country Classic is restricted to horses who have had at least three starts for a New South Wales trainer who is based outside of the major metropolitan tracks. Group or listed class stakes winners are not eligible.

The eight-race Mudgee program begins at 9:24 p.m. Eastern or 6:24 p.m. Pacific on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.