Australia: Shamani faces winners for first time in mile handicap at Wyong Racecourse

Two starts into her career, Shamani is attracting attention in Australia.

After finishing third in her debut in October, Shamani was the 9-5 winner as the favorite of a maiden race at Wyong Racecourse on Nov. 26. The 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere filly is likely to be a slightly better price when she has her debut against winners in a one-mile handicap at Wyong on Thursday.

The handicap is the sixth race on a seven-race program that begins at 9:35 p.m. Eastern, or 6:35 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Shamani is trained by Richard and Michael Freedman and will be ridden by Tommy Berry, who was aboard for the recent maiden race win at a mile. Shamani closed from last of 10 to win by nearly three lengths.

Thursday’s race drew a field of 12. Shamani breaks from post 10, which should not pose a problem considering her late-running style. Shamani will carry 125.6 pounds, well below topweights Aytobe and Shaman at 130 pounds.

Aside from Shamani, the other leading hopes are Fill of Fun and Margie Bee, who will carry 127.8 pounds. The top candidates are fillies and mares, but the handicap field does include seven geldings.

Fill of Fun was second in a one-mile handicap at Wyong on Nov. 26, closing from fourth to miss by a nose. Fill of Fun has started eight times, with a maiden race win in April as her only victory. The recent loss at Wyong was her best performance in five starts since the maiden win. In late April, Fill of Fun was beaten a neck in her debut against winners in a one-mile handicap at Wyong.

Margie Bee, a winner of 4 of 27 starts, has won twice in five appearances at Wyong. Margie Bee was second by a nose in an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Wyong on Nov. 26. She tends to run near the front and should be the filly to catch on Thursday.