Australia: Sagarra back in better spot for Ballarat handicap

Recent starts at prominent Australian tracks such as Caulfield and Flemington were not successful ventures for the gelding Sagarra.

Prior to losses at those tracks, Sagarra won handicaps at Sale Racecourse and Sandown Park. When the 5-year-old Australian-bred starts in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Ballarat Racecourse on Sunday, he appears to be well-suited to the conditions.

Trained by Robbie Griffiths, Sagarra was beaten 4 1/4 lengths in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Flemington on May 23. At Sandown on April 29, Sagarra won a five-furlong race by a length as the 2-1 favorite, racing near the front throughout.

Jockey Campbell Rawiller has the mount on Sunday. Rawiller, an apprentice, rode Sagarra to a win in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on March 29 at Sale. Because of Rawiller’s apprentice claim, Sagarra will carry 127.8 pounds, less than topweight Choisborder at 132.

Choisborder was assigned 136.6 pounds, but will be ridden by apprentice Matthew Cartwright for new trainer Lindsey Smith. Choisborder is winless in five starts since November 2018. A 5-year-old gelding, Choisborder has not raced since a last-place finish in a field of six at Sale in February. Choisborder was sent to Smith’s stable after that race.

Sunday’s handicap will have a field of nine. This is the second start of 2020 for the 5-year-old mare Fill the Flute who was fifth by two lengths in a five-furlong handicap at Bendigo on May 20 in her first start since December. Fill the Flute, who tends to run near the front, won a five-furlong handicap at Cranbourne in November.

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There are five mares in the field, including Zizzis, who has won 4 of 20 starts and was ninth in the $670,000 Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs in January and fifth by 1 3/4 lengths in a handicap at Colac Racecourse on Feb. 16 in her latest start.

The nine-race Ballarat program begins at 10:10 p.m. Eastern, or 7:10 p.m. Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.