Australia: Steamin' puts stretch punch to test in Wellington handicap
Steamin’ has thrived in minor handicaps at a mile at small tracks in Australia in the last 12 months, winning four of 11 starts.
An 8-year-old gelding, Steamin’ runs from off the pace. The rally has worked well at a mile and will be tested in a seven-furlong handicap at Wellington Racecourse on Monday. Steamin’, a winner of 9 of 54 starts, races for the first time on Monday since a neck win at 9-2 in the Parkes Cup at Parkes Racecourse on May 17.
The win at Parkes ended a five-race losing streak that lasted since September, but has its consequences. Steamin’ has the highest handicap rating of his career and will carry 134.4 pounds against a field of 11 on Monday.
Steamin’ has favorable experience at seven furlongs, having won three races at the distance in 2015 at the start of his career.
A Magic Zariz, a winner of 10 of 38 starts, will carry top weight of 138.8 pounds. A Magic Zariz won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Narromine Racecourse in April and was later fifth in the Parkes Cup.
First post time at Wellington is 10:50 p.m., Eastern, or 7:50 p.m., Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Of the others, a case can be made for Highly Desired, a 5-year-old gelding who has won 5 of 20 starts.
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More than four months have passed since Highly Desired finished 13th of 14 in a seven-furlong race at Hawkesbury Racecourse, a subpar performance that extended the gelding’s losing streak to five races.
In late 2019, Highly Desired won consecutive starts in handicaps at 6 1/2 furlongs and seven furlongs, victories that look appealing in advance of his comeback at Wellington.
Highly Desired, who will carry 126.7 pounds, starts from post 10 in a field of 11 and is likely to be near the front. Highly Desired has led or disputed the pace in many of his starts.