Australia: Rodrick’s Secret has right distance in Tuesday handicap

In the last year, Rodrick’s Secret has raced in distances ranging from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles in Australia. In that time, races at a mile have been key to Rodrick’s Secret’s success.

In 14 starts in the last year, Rodrick’s Secret has won 2 of 6 starts at a mile and was unsuccessful in eight starts at other distances.

That records gives Rodrick’s Secret a leading chance in a one-mile handicap at Taree Racecourse on Tuesday.

Trained by Matthew Smith, Rodrick’s Secret is part of a field of nine in the first of nine races at Taree. Post time is 9:40 p.m. Eastern, or 6:40 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Rodrick’s Secret is likely to be the second choice in the betting behind Casarina, a 4-year-old gelding who won his last start.

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Rodrick’s Secret is winless in his last seven starts, but has raced against a slightly higher quality of handicap runners in his last few starts. Rodrick’s Secret was fourth by a slightly more than 1 1/2 lengths in a handicap at a mile at Newcastle on June 11, closing from eighth in a field of 11 in the stretch.

Casarina, a winner of 3 of 21 starts, will provide a target for Rodrick’s Secret. Trained at Taree by Ross Stitt, Casarina won a handicap at 7 1/4 furlongs by a nose at Muswellbrook on June 3, his first start since December.

The win pushed Casarina to the fore in the betting for Monday’s race at Taree.

The Taree handicap is a significant class drop for Call Me Artie, who was fourth in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie on June 19, closing from seventh in a field of 14 to lose by slightly less than three lengths. This is Call Me Artie’s third start this month after a layoff of more than three months. The current span of acitivity began with a fourth in a handicap at six furlongs at Grafton Racecourse on June 11.