Australia: Shameonus stretches in Orange Gold Cup

Shameonus will start at 1 5/16 miles for the first time in the Orange Gold Cup at Orange Racecourse in Australia on Friday, a distance that may work for the 5-year-old gelding.

Shameonus has a good record at Orange, with a win in his second appearance at the countryside track in the one-mile Orange Gold Cup Prelude on March 20. Shameonus was never far from the front and pulled clear to win by nearly 2 1/2 lengths for his third win in 12 starts.

Shameonus, who will be ridden by Ashley Morgan, is likely to race near the front.

In the Orange Gold Cup, Shameonus is rated as the early second choice in a full field of 14. As of Wednesday, Shameonus was 7-2 in early betting behind 3-1 Ita, but shorter than 9-2 From the Bush and 5-1 Hemmerle. All are racing at racing at 1 5/16 miles for the first time.

Ita was fourth by two lengths as the 5-2 favorite in the Muswellbrook Cup at 7 1/2 furlongs on April 1, closing well late.

From the Bush won the Bathurst Cup at 1 1/8 miles last September, but is winless in his last four starts. On March 23, From the Bush was fourth by three lengths in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm.

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Hemmerle won a one-mile handicap at Goulburn on April 2, the 7-year-old gelding’s fifth win in seven starts this year at distances ranging from about seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. The wins have largely been against handicap classes lower than what Hemmerle will face in the Orange Gold Cup.

The distance should fit the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred New World Tapestry, who was based with Aidan O’Brien earlier in his career but has struggled in recent starts. A longshot in the Orange Gold Cup, New World Tapestry won a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Goulburn last October in his final start of 2021, but has been no better than sixth in four starts this year.

By War Front, New World Tapestry is out of Tapestry, winner of the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks in England in 2014.

Orange has an eight-race program beginning at 10:55 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.