Australia: Tara Jasmine stands out in return at Grafton Racecourse

Tara Jasmine, a 4-year-old filly, has been placed in an ideal spot for her first start in four months at Grafton Racecourse in Australia on Monday.

After racing against tougher rivals in March and April, Tara Jasmine is a standout in a handicap at about six furlongs, the second race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern, or 7:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Trained by John Shelton, who is based at Grafton, Tara Jasmine has won 2 of 7 starts. She is winless in her last four races, since a six-furlong handicap at Grafton in February. Tara Jasmine also won a maiden race at Grafton against 12 rivals at 5 1/2 furlongs in her career debut last October.

In her last start, Tara Jasmine was 15th in a field of 16 in the County Championship at Royal Randwick on April 10, a race restricted to horses trained at countryside venues in the state of New South Wales.

Grafton is located on the Australian east coast between Sydney and Brisbane.

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Tara Jasmine has nine rivals for her comeback, notably Rose Bouquet and Sweeping the Board, who will benefit from recent starts.

Rose Bouquet has won two of her last three races, the only victories in her seven-race career. A 4-year-old filly, Rose Bouquet won a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Lismore Racecourse on July 30, closing from sixth in a field of 11. She led throughout a maiden race at six furlongs at Casino Racecourse on May 28 in her first start of the year. In between those wins, Rose Bouquet was 10th of 11 in a seven-furlong handicap, beaten eight lengths, at Gold Coast Racecourse on June 12.

Sweeping the Board, a 5-year-old gelding, returned to action following a layoff of nearly five months to finish fourth in a six-furlong handicap at Ipswich Racecourse on July 30, losing by about three-quarters of a length.

Sweeping the Board, who can be effective from just off the pace, is winless in three starts since a six-furlong handicap at Murwillumbah Racecourse in January.