Australia; Starlink looks to use closing tactics against a tough handicap field

Starlink can be an exciting filly to follow on Australia’s countryside tracks.

The 4-year-old Starlink is a closer who tends to leave it late. She won a seven-furlong handicap at Bathurst on May 25, rallying from sixth in a field of seven on the rail to prevail by less than a half-length.

Starlink has never won consecutive starts, but has a fine chance to do so in a handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Dubbo Racecourse on Thursday evening. The handicap will be Starlink’s first start in a race exclusively for fillies and mares since last June.

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The race drew a field of 12 and should produce sufficient pace to help Starlink’s chances through the stretch. Apprentice jockey Ronald Simpson, who was aboard for the win at Bathurst, keeps the mount.

Simpson has been the recent rider of Pants on Fire, a 4-year-old filly who has two of her last three starts and is part of the field at Dubbo. Pants on Fire has an opposite style, often setting the pace. She will be one of the runners to catch.

Starlink (9-2) and Pants on Fire (4-1) were prominent in early betting as of Wednesday, contenders behind expected favorite Hammoon Money at 3-1.

Hammoon Money has won 2 of 6 starts, with both wins at Dubbo. Hammoon Money won her last start at Dubbo in a six-furlong handicap on May 6 in which she set the pace.

Hammoon Money was fourth by two lengths behind Starlink at Bathurst on May 25. She tracked a clear leader to early stretch and closed some ground on that rival, but was unable to keep pace with Starlink in the final sixteenth.

Dubbo has an eight-race program beginning at 10:25 p.m. Eastern or 7:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.