Australia: Skelm ready to get back on winning track in Kyneton Cup
A significant weight break and the benefit of a recent start may help the 7-year-old gelding Skelm end a four-race losing streak in Wednesday’s $94,000 Kyneton Cup at Kyneton Cup Racecourse in Australia.
The Kyneton program comes at an interesting time in the Australian racing week. The Melbourne Cup is Tuesday at Flemington Racecourse. Thursday, the highlight of the nation’s racing is the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks at Flemington.
The Kyneton Cup, run at 1 1/4 miles, drew a field of 11, with Skelm, Dark Dream, Double You Tee and The Regiment in close proximity for the role of favorite at 9-2 or 5-1 as of Monday. Dark Dream and Double You Tee share top weight of 132 pounds, while Skelm and The Regiment will carry 119.
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Skelm, trained by Terry Kelly, won the Stony Creek Cup at 1 5/16 miles at Stony Creek Racecourse in March, but was winless in his next three starts to early May. Skelm returned to racing with a third-place finish by 1 3/4 lengths in the Avoca Cup at about 1 1/8 miles at tiny Avoca Racecourse on Oct. 16. He closed from fifth in a field of nine.
Double You Tee was third against a tougher field in a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Oct. 22, his fifth consecutive loss since a win in the Group 3 Hobart Cup at 1 1/2 miles in February.
At Moonee Valley, Double You Tee was beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Thought of That, the 1-2 favorite who won his third consecutive start.
Dark Dream has won three times at the distance of 1 1/4 miles and will race from off the pace. A 7-year-old gelding, Dark Dream was beaten about a neck in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles in the Moe Cup at Moe Racecourse on Oct. 15. Despite the weight assignment, Dark Dream has attractive credentials.
The Regiment will have his 63rd start, but only second at a distance close to 1 1/4 miles. A 7-year-old gelding, The Regiment finished with interest for seventh, beaten about 2 1/4 lengths, in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Geelong Racecourse on Oct. 20.
Kyneton has a nine-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.