Australia: Sky Call faces easier competition at Wagga Wagga

Through 2020, the Australian mare Sky Call has raced in lucrative handicaps or restricted races, winning once and finishing second or third three times in eight starts.

Sky Call has not won since February, a span of five races, and will get a reprieve from the tougher competition when she starts in a minor handicap at seven furlongs at Wagga Wagga Racecourse in New South Wales on Friday.

Sky Call, trained by Mitchell Beer, is part of a field of 12, and rates as a leading hopeful along with probable favorite Zelago and the 8-year-old gelding Thistledo.

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Sky Call drew post 7 which should work for her closing style. A 5-year-old in the Southern Hemisphere, Sky Call will be fitted with blinkers for the first time in an effort to reverse the recent losing streak. Sky Call was eighth of 12 in the Benalla Cup at seven furlongs at Benalla Racecourse on Oct. 23.

Zelago won a six-furlong handicap at Canberra Racecourse on Oct. 9 for his fourth win in his 17th start. A gelding, Zelago tends to run from off the pace. He won a seven-furlong handicap in March, the second of three consecutive wins. Zelago ended a four-race losing streak at Canberra earlier this month.

Thistledo has won 4 of 18 starts, a light schedule for an older gelding. Friday’s race is his first start since a fifth-place finish in a five-furlong handicap in June, his sixth consecutive loss. Thistledo won consecutive handicaps at six furlongs in July and August of 2019.

Those runners are likely to be in pursuit of Dezzy, a 9-year-old who tends to run near the front. He was second by 2 3/4 lengths in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs on Oct. 17 after racing near the front.

Post time at Wagga Wagga is 10:35 p.m. Eastern, or 7:35 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.