Australia: Red Beryl will be running late in wide-open Moree Cup

A well-timed rally put Red Beryl in the winner’s circle of a six-furlong handicap at Moree Racecourse in Australia on July 16 and served as an ideal prep race for a return to that venue in the Moree Cup on Saturday evening across American time zones.

Red Beryl, who has won 5 of 22 starts, ended a five-race losing streak since April in the July 16 race. Ridden by Matthew Palmer for trainer Jane Clement, Red Beryl closed from fourth of nine to win by a head as the 2-1 favorite.

Red Beryl tends to run from off the pace and such a style could lead to an intense finish in the 14-runner Moree Cup at seven furlongs. Red Beryl will be joined at the back by a runner such as Point Counterpoint, who is unraced since December. The mares Ah Well and Moetta have run well in recent starts and will be among the choices in a race without a strong favorite.

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Point Counterpoint has won 4 of 18 starts, with his most recent win in a lucrative handicap at a mile at Kembla Grange last November. Point Counterpoint finished second by slightly more than a half-length in the Armidale Cup at a mile at Tamworth Racecourse in December.

Ah Well typically runs as a stalker, but set the pace in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Scone on Aug. 15. She was in front until the final sixteenth when she faded to finish third of five, beaten slightly less than a length in her first start since February.

The course and distance of the Moree Cup will suit the 6-year-old Ah Well, who has won twice at seven furlongs at Moree in eight appearances at the course.

Moetta, also a 6-year-old, tends to run near the front. She won a five-furlong handicap at Gilgandra Racecourse in July and has been second or third in her last three starts in handicaps at distances ranging from about 5 1/2 furlongs to about 6 1/2 furlongs.

The Moree Cup is the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:40 p.m. Eastern or 7:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.