Australia: Tifosi ends hiatus in 6-furlong handicap at Terang

The first two races in the career of the Australian gelding Tifosi were tales of extremes.

Tifosi won his debut in a maiden race on July 10, but finished last of nine in his first start against winners in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on July 27.

Tifosi was rested after the loss and returns to action in a six-furlong handicap at Terang Racecourse on Monday evening across American time zones.

Courtesy of his sharp debut win, Tifosi was the 2-1 favorite in early betting as of Sunday morning, a slight choice over Squami at 5-2. Dance of Thunder and So You Can were the joint third choices at 6-1.

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Tifosi, a 3-year-old trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, has raced from a tracking position in his first two starts and is part of a field of 11 at Terang in a race restricted to males.

This is Tifosi’s first start against older horses. Squami, a 5-year-old gelding, has won 2 of 21 starts, but is winless in his last eight starts since a handicap at Benalla in February. Squali has finished second or third in five of those races during the losing streak. In racing, Squami is versatile, having set the pace and raced from a stalking position in recent starts.

The race at Terang represents an important class drop in the handicap ranks for Class of Thunder, a winner of 2 of 16 starts. Dance of Thunder is winless in his last three races, since a handicap at seven furlongs at Mildura in July.

This is Class of Thunder’s second start following a layoff of more than three months. Class of Thunder was ninth of 11, beaten 4 1/4 lengths, at odds of 12-1 in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Warrnambool on Dec. 8.

Terang has a 10-race program beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern or 5:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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