Australia: Sheer Class may be one to catch in Benalla handicap

A clean start may give the 4-year-old gelding Sheer Class an advantage against his principal rivals in a one-mile handicap at Benalla Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday evening across American time zones.

Sheer Class finished fifth by about 2 3/4 lengths in a handicap at seven furlongs at Bendigo on Dec. 11 in his most recent start. Sheer Class broke slowly and raced as close as third before fading in the final furlong.

Sheer Class tends to run near the front, while several other leading runners he faces at Benalla tend to run from off the pace. Sheer Class has won once in eight starts, in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Cranbourne Racecourse in October. In two previous starts at a mile, Sheer Class was beaten a neck in maiden races in April and May. Considering he was not beaten far, Sheer Class appears to handle a mile.

Sheer Class breaks from post 10 and will be ridden by Jarrod Fry who is likely to have his mount forward quickly. Fry has been in good form recently, winning with 10 of 50 mounts from Dec. 9 through Monday.

The race has drawn a field of 11 and is led by expected favorite Marcolt, a winner of 2 of 19 starts. A closer, Marcolt finished sixth by two lengths in a handicap against a tougher field at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Dec. 21 in his first start since August. Both of Marcolt’s wins have been at a mile, suggesting the recent start should help the 5-year-old gelding’s chances.

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The distance should work for Turn It Up Tommy, who was eighth by slightly more than 3 1/2 lengths in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sandown on Dec. 7. A slightly shorter distance may benefit the 4-year-old gelding. A winner of 2 of 19 starts, Turn It Up Tommy won a handicap at about 7 1/2 furlongs at Geelong Racecourse on Nov. 13, closing from off the pace.

Benalla has an eight-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.