Australia: Streaking Tags may have edge Tuesday at Hawkesbury

A recent win by Tags in a handicap sprint may give the Australian 3-year-old gelding an edge over his chief rival Command King at Hawkesbury Racecourse on Tuesday.

Tags, a winner of 3 of 4 starts, returned from a layoff of nearly four months to win his third consecutive start in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Bathurst on June 8. Earlier this year, Tags won handicaps at six and 6 1/2 furlongs.

Command King has not raced since a win at 1 1/4 miles in a handicap at Canberra Racecourse in December for his second victory in four starts. A 4-year-old gelding, Command King did win his debut in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Goulburn Racecourse last November, proving his ability in sprints.

Tuesday’s race at Hawkesbury is run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

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Tags is versatile, with wins from the front and off the pace. The gelding breaks from post 4 at Hawkesbury in a field of 12.

Command King has won 2 of 4 starts, consistently racing as a stalker.

Hawkesbury is familiar territory for Lord Zoulander, a winner at the greater Sydney track at five furlongs last July. Lord Zoulander is winless in nine subsequent starts, often racing at some of the toughest tracks in the Sydney area.

Lord Zoulander was sixth by about 1 1/2 lengths in a handicap at six furlongs at Kembla Grange Racecourse on May 29.

The Hawkesbury program begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.