Australia: Social Element even money to win fifth straight race in Grand National Steeplechase

At the age of 8, Social Element has found his niche in recent months in Australian steeplechases.

The gelding is unbeaten in four starts since June over the tougher obstacles at distances ranging from about 2 1/8 miles to 2 5/8 miles. Sunday at Ballarat Racecourse, Social Element will start in the richest race of his career in the $256,060 Grand National Steeplechase at 2 13/16 miles, his longest race.

Trained by Gai Waterhoue and Adrian Bott, Social Element was even money in early betting on Friday in a race with seven entrants.

Social Element tends to lead or race near the front, a style that led to an eight-length win in the Crisp Chase at 2 5/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Aug. 1, his most recent start.

Flying Agent, third in the Crisp and the winner of the prestigious Brierly Chase at Warrnambool in May, and Inayforhay, who was second in the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown on Aug. 1, have appealing recent form.

Ballarat has a six-race program that begins at 11 p.m. Eastern, or 8 p.m. Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Earlier on the program, Norway, a 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding who began his career with Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, will be a slight favorite over Saunter Boy and Home by Midnight in the $91,450 J.J. Houlahan Hurdle at about two miles.

Norway was third in the Group 1 Irish Derby in 2019. In Australia, Norway struggled in group-level flat races, but won two hurdle races in July before finishing fifth in the Grand National Hurdle.

Saunter Boy was second in the 2020 Houlahan, but was pulled up in early stretch of the Grand National Hurdle.

Home by Midnight was third in the J.W. Hurdle at Warrnambool in July in his latest race over obstacles. On Aug. 21, Home by Midnight was seventh at 50-1 in a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles on the flat at Moonee Valley Racecourse.

Kah and three other riders suspended, fined

Jamie Kah, the leading flat jockey at Melbourne area tracks in the 2020-2021 season, and three other riders have been suspended for 90 days for violations of COVID quarantine rules set forth by the government of the Australian state of Victoria and racing authorities.

The penalty, which was issued on Friday, will prevent Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown, and Celine Gaudray from riding until late November. For prominent riders such as Kah and Melham, the suspension eliminates their participation in such major races as the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, and Melbourne Cup in October and early November.

The four riders attended a house party on Wednesday that drew the attention of local police because of a noise complaint, according to Racing.com. Kah issued a statement on Twitter on Friday apologizing for the situation.

The riders were fined approximately $3,980 by local police for violating local lockdown laws, according to Racing.com.