Australia: Sertin will undoubtedly show speed in four-fourlong dash at Ipswich

There are sprinters and then there is the speedy group in the fifth race at Ipswich Racecourse in Australia on Friday.

They will compete at four furlongs, a specialty distance for many starters in the field of nine, and understandably the shortest of seven races on the program.

Sertin, a 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding, will be the rightful favorite. He won a handicap at a half-mile at Ipswich on July 3 in his first start in nearly five months and followed with a victory in a handicap at 4 1/2 furlongs at Gold Coast on July 18.

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Friday’s dash is run as a handicap with weights ranging from 136.6 pounds for topweight Remember Mary, who was second to Sertin on July 18, to 123 pounds for Somebody’s Girl, who was second by a nose in a handicap at 4 1/4 furlongs at Gatton Racecourse on July 12.

Sertin, a winner 3 of 8 starts, will carry 130 pounds and will be ridden by apprentice jockey Sheriden Thompson, who was aboard for the recent wins.

Remember Mary, a 6-year-old mare, has won 5 of 24 starts with the victories ranging at distances from 4 1/4 furlongs to 5 1/4 furlongs. Remember Mary, who is expected to dispute the pace, was beaten about a half-length by Sertin on July 18 after holding an early lead.

The half-mile race will be a class test for After the Storm, a 4-year-old who won consecutive starts at 4 1/4 furlongs at tiny Bundaberg Racecourse in April and has not started since. After the Storm drew the rail on Friday and will need to utilize her speed to maintain position.

Races at four furlongs at Ipswich start in a chute on the side of the course before joining the stretch, which is a little more than a quarter-mile in length.

First post time at Ipswich is 10:42 p.m. Eastern, or 7:42 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.