Australia: Ruby Tuesday returns to scene of latest win

The last time the Australian filly Ruby Tuesday reached the winner’s circle she beat males in a seven-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse last September.

Ruby Tuesday lost her next four appearances – all against fillies and mares - although she closed well to finish a good third in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm on March 31 in that span.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Wednesday, Ruby Tuesday returns to Hawkesbury where she is part of a field of 11 consisting of seven males and four females. Ruby Tuesday was 9-2 in early betting on Monday, the third choice behind two other females in Maui Girl (2-1) and Mightybeel (7-2).

Ruby Tuesday has won 3 of 13 starts. British jockey Tom Marquand, riding in Australia in recent months, has the mount on the 4-year-old Ruby Tuesday for the first time. Ruby Tuesday has won at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs.

Maui Girl will be favored on the basis of a significant class drop. A winner of 3 of 18 starts, Maui Girl was fourth by slightly less than two lengths at 50-1 in the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap at seven furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse on March 5.

A 5-year-old, Maui Girl was recently transferred from trainer Jason Coyle to Annabel Neasham since that race. Neasham began training in 2020 and her first Group 1 win came last month with Mo’unga in the Rosehill Guineas.

Maui Girl, who tends to run as a stalker, is winless in 13 starts in the last 11 months. This will be her seventh start of 2021.

Mightybeel is the most lightly raced runner in the field, with one win in four starts, the win coming in a maiden race at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park on Feb. 12. Two weeks later, Mightybeel was fifth of 10 in her first start against winners in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury, losing by 4 1/2 lengths as the 3-2 favorite.

Trained by Chris Waller, Mightybeel may be better suited to this shorter trip.

Hawkesbury, located on the outskirts of Sydney, has an eight-race program, beginning at 10:50 p.m., Eastern, or 7:50 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.