Australia: Squiggles can continue rebound in six-furlong handicap Tuesday

A five-month break from July to mid-December has contributed to a career revival for Squiggles, a 3-year-old Australian filly who starts in a six-furlong handicap at Bathurst Racecourse on Tuesday.

Trained by Mark Newnham, Squiggles has won twice since returning to action – a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Bathurst on Dec. 20, and a six-furlong handicap at Nowra on Jan. 9. She closed from fourth in a field of 10 to beat maidens and led throughout the race at Nowra. The flexible tactics could make Squiggles even more dangerous in this field.

Squiggles, who has had five starts, was well-beaten in her first three starts from late May to early July last year. Tyler Schiller will ride Squiggles at Bathurst and has experience on the filly from a race last year and the recent win at Nowra.

Other prominent runners at Bathurst, such as Lohnraki, Rupertson and Speed Camera, were beaten in their last starts.

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Lohnraki, a 3-year-old gelding, won his debut last July, but was third and sixth in starts in November and December handicaps.

Rupertson will have his first start at six furlongs, and third career race, at Bathurst. Rupertson won his debut in a maiden race at Orange Racecourse on Dec. 14 and was fourth by 2 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong handicap at Nowra on Dec. 31. A 3-year-old gelding, Rupertson will be fitted with blinkers for the first time in this start.

Speed Camera, a 7-year-old mare, is a veteran compared to her chief rivals, having won 4 of 32 starts. Speed Camera is trained at Bathurst by Wanda Ings and has won 2 of 5 starts at the track, which is located about 120 miles northwest of Sydney.

Speed Camera is winless in eight starts since a six-furlong handicap at Bathurst in October 2020.

Bathurst has an eight-race program beginning at 9:15 p.m. Eastern, or 6:15 p.m. Pacific on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.