Australia: Spanish Tides looks to break pattern and go back to back

The Australian mare Spanish Tides has had an odd but consistent pattern of results this year.

Through six starts, she has followed a loss with a win, never losing or winning consecutive races.

The pattern could end at an opportune time when Spanish Tides starts in the Benalla Gold Cup at about 1 1/4 miles at Benalla Racecourse on Thursday evening across American time zones.

Spanish Tides is part of a field of eight and the only runner with a last-race win. Trained by Luke Oliver, Spanish Tides won her debut at 1 1/4 miles in a handicap at Caulfield Racecourse on Aug. 27. Her other wins this year were in handicaps at distances of 7 1/2 furlongs and a mile.

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In the Benalla Gold Cup, Spanish Tides will be ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, who is likely to have the 6-year-old mare in a stalking position. Spanish Tides has won 6 of 15 starts in her career and is in the midst of her best season, racing at a higher level than she did in 2021.

The Benalla Gold Cup lacks a standout runner, and is the second race following a layoff of more than five months for Dark Dream, a three-time winner at 1 1/4 miles in his 39-race career. Dark Dream was only seventh of 10 as a 30-1 outsider in a one-mile handicap at Moonee Valley on Sept. 3.

The distance is also a good fit for the veteran geldings Classy Joe, Good Idea, Not Usual Glorious, and Wertheimer, all soundly beaten in their last starts. All are racing at Benalla for the first time in the Gold Cup.

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Not Usual Glorious, a winner of 4 of 7 starts at 1 1/4 miles, is a danger from the front.

Benalla has a nine-race program beginning at 10:35 p.m. Eastern or 7:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.