Australia: Regal Stage should run well following layoff in Muswellbrook Gold Cup

Layoffs are not a hindrance for Regal Stage, the 7-year-old Australian gelding who has his first start since September in Friday’s $112,600 Muswellbrook Gold Cup at Muswellbrook Racecourse.

Twice in his career, Regal Stage has returned from layoffs of five and six months to win. Last year, Regal Stage was beaten in his first start of the year in June, when fourth against a tough field, but rebounded to later win a one-mile handicap against 14 rivals at Rockhampton Racecourse in his second start of the season.

Trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, Regal Stage is part of a full field of 14 in the Muswellbrook Gold Cup at 7 1/2 furlongs. Muswellbrook has an eight-race program that begins at 10:15 p.m. Eastern or 7:15 p.m. Pacific on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Regal Stage tends to run near the front and will be prominent early from a wide post under jockey Winona Costin, who rides frequently for the Bott-Waterhouse stable. Costin had four wins for that stable in the final two weeks of March.

The Muswellbrook Gold Cup lacks a strong favorite, or even a runner with a win in their last start.

Ita, a 4-year-old filly, will be a moderate favorite. She was 5-1 in early betting on Wednesday, compared to 8-1 for Regal Stage. A winner of 4 of 16 starts, Ita won three consecutive races last August and September at distances ranging from seven furlongs to a mile. Ita is winless in her last six starts, a span that includes three second- and third-place finishes in handicaps at 6 1/4 furlongs to a mile since late February.

The Muswellbrook Gold Cup is the first start since mid-December for the 6-year-old mare Welsh Legend, a winner of 3 of 31 starts for prominent trainer Chris Waller. Welsh Legend was fourth in December behind the well-regarded French-bred gelding Huetor in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, a field better than the group she faces at Muswellbrook.