Australia: Same Old Scene brings favorable habit to Monday handicap

The 5-year-old mare Same Old Scene has developed a favorably repetitive habit in recent months at minor tracks in the Australian state of New South Wales.

Twice in her last four starts, Same Old Scene has won turf marathons in handicaps, the sort of results that give her attractive credentials in a similar race at 1 5/16 miles at Orange Racecourse in the Australian countryside on Monday.

Trained by Doug Gorrel, Same Old Scene was fourth in her most recent start, a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Moruya on Aug. 31. Same Old Scene set the pace, but could not sustain the advantage and was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Phelan Thirsty.

The running style was a slight change for Same Old Scene, who stalked the pace in handicap victories in July and earlier in August.

At Orange, Same Old Scene will be ridden by Jeff Penza, who has been aboard for four of her last five starts.

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Orange has a seven-race program beginning at 11:15 p.m. Eastern, or 8:15 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Same Old Scene is part of a field of nine in the fifth race, a group that includes others with recent success in distance races.

Dragon’s Shadow, who will carry topweight of 130 pounds compared to 125.6 for Same Old Scene, won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Bathurst on Aug. 23 and was fifth in the same race as Same Old Scene at Moruya on Aug. 31.

A 7-year-old gelding, Dragon’s Shadow has won 6 of 49 starts. Same Old Scene gets a break in the weights since she is a mare.

The 5-year-old gelding Clem Fandango was third behind Phelan Thirsty in the recent race at Moruya and is a threat from off the pace.