Australia: Shuffle Up going long in Royal Randwick handicap

In 2019, Shuffle Up was good enough to finish second in a Group 3 at a mile in Australia. This year, the focus is on longer races, such as a first-ever attempt at 1 1/2 miles in a handicap on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Wednesday.

Shuffle Up has won 2 of 12 starts and has essentially had two careers. A 5-year-old gelding, Shuffle Up won races at 6 1/2 furlongs and a mile in 2019, but did not start for 25 months after finishing second in the Group 3 Carbine Stakes at a mile on the main turf course at Randwick in April 2019.

Shuffle Up, who is trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, was in training in 2020, but did not return to action until May of this year. In four starts in 2021, Shuffle Up is winless, but was third and second in his last two starts in handicaps, both at Kensington – at 7 3/4 furlongs on July 7 and 1 1/8 miles on July 21.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

In Wednesday’s race, Shuffle Up shares top weight of 130 pounds with expected favorite Bethencourt, but only because Shuffle Up will be ridden by apprentice jockey Jean Van Overmeire, who was aboard for the July 7 race. Regal Bayliss rode Shuffle Up on July 21, but is currently suspended for a recent riding infraction.

This longer race will be a new distance to Bethencourt, a winner of 2 of 9 starts for trainer Kim Waugh. Bethencourt has been second in his last two starts – a handicap for 3- and 4-year-olds at 7 3/4 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on July 3 and a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park on July 14 when he was beaten a neck as the 9-5 favorite.

Shuffle Up and Bethencourt are part of a field of 13 in the third of eight races at Kensington. The program begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern, or 7:25 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.