Australia: Tidal Creek, Sprout Wings looks well matched in handicap

The promising colt Tidal Creek, winner of two races in February, and the veteran mare Sprout Wings, who won for the third time in her career May 25, meet for the first time in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park in Australia on Wednesday.

There may not be much between them at the finish in a well-matched field of nine. They have both won at the distance at Canterbury and may not be far apart in the race as stalkers.

Tidal Creek, a Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old, was given a rest of more than three months after winning a handicap for 3- and 4-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park in February.

Tidal Creek returned to finish a fair fourth in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury on June 8. He stalked the pace and finished 5 1/2 lengths behind Karlstad, who was a decent third in a lucrative handicap at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on Saturday.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Sprout Wings has won 2 of 3 career starts at Canterbury, the most recent of which was a handicap at 1 3/16 miles on May 25. Sprout Wings was always near the front and won by a neck against a slightly lower level of handicap competition than she will face in this field.

While they have every chance to be in the first three, others have solid credentials, too.

The distance should suit Dinado, a possible pacesetter who was second in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on June 15, leading to late stretch before losing by a neck.

The narrow loss was Dinado’s best result in four starts this year, following a layoff of more than six months.

There will be deserved support for Freedom Square, a five-time winner in 11 starts. Freedom Square won his only appearance at 1 3/16 miles at Gosford Racecourse last November, prevailing as the 3-10 favorite. More recently, Freedom Square won a handicap at a mile at Dubbo Racecourse against a higher class of handicap runners than he will face at Canterbury Park.

Canterbury Park, located in Sydney, has a seven-race program beginning at 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.