Australia: A sharp comeback, low weight makes Time to Boogie tough in Canterbury Sprint

A sharp recent comeback race and a low weight assignment make Time to Boogie an attractive favorite in Tuesday’s $124,300 Canterbury Sprint at Canterbury Park near Sydney, Australia.

Time to Boogie returned from an 11-month layoff to finish second by a nose in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 21, leading in the final furlong before being caught at the wire.

A 5-year-old gelding, Time to Boogie is part of a field of 10 in the Canterbury Sprint, which is run as a handicap at six furlongs.

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Brudenell, an 11-1 outsider, will carry topweight of 130 pounds, while Time to Boogie will carry just 116.8 pounds.

Time to Boogie, a 5-year-old gelding, has won 4 of 15 starts and is winless in three starts since a five-furlong handicap at Randwick last December. In the Canterbury Sprint, Time to Boogie drew the inside post and will be ridden by Rachel King, who was aboard for the win last year as well as the recent comeback.

Michael Freedman trains Time to Boogie. His stable won with a hearty 10 of 50 runners from Oct. 23 through Saturday.

Time to Boogie was 2-1 in early betting on Monday.

The Canterbury Sprint field includes Iowna Merc, who beat Time to Boogie on Dec. 21, and the well-regarded Our Kobison, who was fourth in the same race.

Our Kobison, who was 3-1 on Monday, carried 130 pounds in that race when ridden by apprentice jockey Molly Bourke. Jason Collett has the mount in the Canterbury Sprint. Our Kobison has a lighter assignment of 126.7 pounds.

Our Kobison tends to race as a stalker, while Iowna Merc, who was 6-1 on Monday, is more of a closer.

Brudenell is the topweight based on his form earlier this year when he won twice, including a six-furlong stakes at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Canterbury has an eight-race program beginning at 10:40 p.m. Eastern or 7:40 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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