Australia: Tidal Creek turns to apprentice rider in stretch-out bid

Tidal Creek will start at 1 1/4 miles for the first time in a handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on Thursday, which has led to a jockey switch for the lightly raced Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old.

Tidal Creek will be ridden for the first time by apprentice jockey Ellen Hennessy, an assignment that reduces the weight from 134.4 pounds to 130.

A winner of 2 of 6 starts, Tidal Creek will have his third start since early June at Kembla Grange. Following a layoff of more than three months, Tidal Creek was fourth of 10 in a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park on June 8 and a more encouraging third by a length as the 7-5 favorite in a handicap at Canterbury on June 22.

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The form of the June 22 race has held up well. Race winner Tudor Prince returned to win a handicap at Hawkesbury on Sunday, while runner-up Kirkeby was second in a handicap against a tougher field at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.

Tidal Creek, trained by Annabel Neashem, won a maiden race at a mile and a handicap at 1 3/16 miles in February. He tends to run near the front and is part of a field of eight in the first of seven races at Kembla Grange.

The program begins at 10:55 p.m. Eastern or 7:55 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The race distance is ideal for El Lago, who was the 7-2 second choice in early betting on Tuesday behind even-money Tidal Creek. El Lago won a handicap against a lower-level group of handicap runners at 1 1/4 miles at Moruya Racecourse on June 21, and followed with a good second by two lengths against a better field at 1 3/8 miles at Grafton on July 13.