Australia: Smuggler's Bay's pacesetting style gets tested in Tuesday handicap
Smuggler’s Bay won the first two starts of his career in Australia in May by setting the pace, a style that may be tested in a five-furlong handicap at Orange Racecourse in the New South Wales countryside on Tuesday.
A 4-year-old gelding, Smuggler’s Bay is part of a field of eight that includes a few other runners who tend to run near the front. This will be the first start for Smuggler’s Bay since he finished third as the 1-2 favorite in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Bathurst Racecourse on June 8, racing in third early before losing by a little more than a length.
A winner of 2 of 3 starts, Smuggler’s Bay’s won twice at five furlongs in May.
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Trained by Ron Weston and Jon Nisbet, Smuggler’s Bay will be ridden by Kayla Nisbet, who has been aboard for all three races. Smuggler’s Bay breaks from post 3, and may have a slight strategic advantage.
Runners such as Absolutely Foxy and the well-regarded Witness Collector have shown speed in recent starts. They are drawn to the inside of Smuggler’s Bay, who could attend those runners without being forced to the front.
Absolutely Foxy, a 4-year-old filly, has not raced since last November when she set the pace in a five-furlong handicap and faded to finish eighth. Her only win in nine starts has been a five-furlong maiden race at Wyong Racecourse in June 2020 on a day she led throughout.
Witness Collector, a winner of 4 of 25 starts, set the pace in a five-furlong handicap at Tamworth on Sept. 27, but faded to finish third, beaten by 1 1/4 lengths.
Chevconi could be the beneficiary of a speed duel. A winner of 2 of 7 starts, Chevconi won a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Narromine Racecourse on Sept. 16, closing from third in a field of 10 to win by 1 3/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite.
Orange has a seven-race program that begins at 10:45 p.m. Eastern, or 7:45 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.