Australia: Solar Apex finds softer spot in Warwick Farm handicap

The Australian gelding Solar Apex had an easy time in two handicaps at Gosford Park in September, winning consecutive races for the first time in his career.

A jump in class, and a move to higher-profile venues in Sydney in October and November, led to three straight losses.

Solar Apex, trained by Chris Waller, has been entered in a slightly easier handicap at a mile at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney on Wednesday. Solar Apex is back to racing at the same level as his September races, a leading reason he was the 9-5 favorite as of Monday to beat seven rivals.

Warwick Farm has a seven-race program beginning at 10:20 p.m. Eastern, or 7:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Solar Apex is understandably the topweight in the field, but the booking of apprentice jockey Tom Sherry reduces the weight assignment to 131 pounds from 134.4. Sherry will ride Solar Apex for the first time at Warwick Farm.

In his last race Nov. 20, Solar Apex finished fifth of nine in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Kembla Grange Racecourse, closing from eighth to lose by 3 3/4 lengths.

Apprentice jockeys have been booked on the three horses with the highest weight assignments.

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Tyler Schiller will ride Momack, a 4-1 chance as of Monday. Momack will carry 125.6 pounds instead of the original assignment of 132. Momack won a one-mile handicap against a lower class of runners in May and has been third and eighth in two recent starts.

On Nov. 26, Momack was eighth in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park on a heavy turf course that may not have been to his liking. Momack is winless in two starts on heavy turf, but has won 4 of 5 races on soft turf, conditions expected at Warwick Farm.

Atlantic King, also 4-1 as of Monday, will be ridden by apprentice Reece Jones, reducing the assignment from 130 pounds to a relatively light 123. Atlantic King won a one-mile handicap at this level at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Nov. 2, but was 11th of 12 in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles there Nov. 17.

Atlantic King faded through the stretch in his second attempt at that distance. He has won twice at a mile in his 14-race career.