Australia: Sausedge makes group stakes debut in Belle of the Turf

Sausedge, the 5-year-old Australian-bred mare, will have her group stakes debut in Tuesday’s $121,600 Belle of the Turf Stakes at Gosford Park, north of Sydney, Australia. Sausedge’s first start in such a race comes at a time when she has lost her last seven starts, the longest losing streak of her 17-race career.

A six-time winner, Sausedge ran in two listed stakes earlier in her career, finishing fifth in both.

Despite those setbacks, there are indications Sausedge could run well in the Belle of the Turf Stakes.

Sausedge, trained by Matthew Dale, returned from a six-month layoff in late October and has since finished fourth, third twice and second once in four starts, never losing by more than 1 1/2 lengths. In a seven-furlong handicap at Royal Randwick on Dec. 19, Sausedge was second by three-quarters of a length to Saigon, who has won four of her last five starts.

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The Belle of the Turf Stakes is run at a mile for fillies and mares and drew 18. The race will have a safety limit of 14 starters.

Sausedge figures to be the second choice behind Fulmina. There will be strong support for Betcha Flying.

Fulmina, winner of 4 of 12 starts, was sixth as the 4-5 favorite in a handicap at a mile at Randwick on Dec. 19, a race in which Betcha Flying was second. Fulmina raced between rivals in early stretch and closed some ground when clear in the final sixteenth. It was not an ideal stretch run.

Betcha Flying, winner of 2 of 19 starts, set an uncontested pace and was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by New Arrangement, who had an ideal trip.

The Belle of the Turf Stakes will be a class test for the 5-year-old mare On the White Turf, who has won two of her last three starts in handicaps at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park.

The Belle of the Turf Stakes is the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern, or 6:15 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.

On the White Turf is trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, who start Forbidden Love in the preceding race, the $114,000 Gosford Guineas at six furlongs. A 3-year-old filly, Forbidden Love was third in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at a mile for fillies and mares at Flemington Racecourse on Oct. 31 and won the minor Reg Allen Stakes at seven furlongs at Randwick on Oct. 17.

The Gosford Guineas drew a field of 12 and will be the stakes debut for Malkovich, a winner of 3 of 6 starts. Malkovich has won his last two starts in handicaps at five furlongs and 5 1/2 furlongs and will have his debut at six furlongs in the Gosford Guineas as an expected pacesetter.