Australia: Talladega Knight makes quick turnaround at Taree

Talladega Knight returned from a four-month layoff to finish third in a seven-furlong handicap at Nowra Racecourse in Australia on April 26. He seems to have bounced out of the race in fine condition.

Less than two weeks later, Talladega Knight is back in a one-mile handicap at Taree Racecourse on Monday. A 7-year-old gelding trained by Wayne Austin, Talladega Knight has won just twice in 38 starts, both times at a mile, but one of the victories was at Taree last July on heavy turf. Similar conditions are likely for this start.

Jeff Penza rode Talladega Knight to the win last year and has the mount again on Monday. Penza is likely to have Talladega Knight in a stalking position in a field of nine.

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None of the runners have won in their last three starts. The 3-year-old Persian Beauty, the lone female in the field, won two consecutive starts in a span of eight days at Taree last November, but is winless in her last five starts. She is trained by Taree-based Ross Stitt.

On April 24, Persian Beauty was second by a head in a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Port Macquarie Racecourse. She closed from seventh in a field of 12 to run her best race since November. The narrow loss may make Persian Beauty favorite in this field.

A winner of 2 of 13 starts, Persian Beauty is also a threat from off the pace and will be ridden by Kody Nestor for the first time. Nestor, 31, retired from riding in 2017 to begin training, and left that side of racing in October. He resumed riding on April 17 and has one win in 20 mounts since his return through Saturday.

Talladega Knight and Persian Beauty start in the second of eight races at Taree on a program that begins at 10:05 p.m. Eastern or 7:05 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.