Australia: Top Fred trying to win third straight as he shifts to Donald Racecourse
Winless in his first seven starts, Top Fred returned from a three-month break to record a breakthrough performance in a maiden race at six furlongs at tiny Swan Hill Racecourse in Australia in April. That was followed by another win at the same venue in a six-furlong handicap on May 11.
The distances may have been the key. In December and January, Top Fred was racing at 1 1/4 miles. The shorter trip seems to be a better fit, which makes Top Fred well-suited to a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Donald Racecourse on Friday.
The small town of Donald is located about three hours north of Melbourne. The track hosts six days of racing a year.
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Friday’s race will have a maximum of 12 runners. Top Fred, trained by Austy Coffey, will be ridden by Dean Rendall, who was aboard for the recent wins.
Top Fred, who will carry 130 pounds, is a threat from off the pace. The Enzo, who led in a one-mile handicap at Stawell Racecourse on May 22 before fading to finish sixth, could set the pace on Friday.
A greater threat to Top Fred is Motakhayyel, a lightly raced Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old gelding who tends to run as a stalker. Motakhayyel won a maiden race at about six furlongs at Wangaratta on April 16, but was fourth in his debut against winners as the 136.6-pound topweight in a handicap at Geelong on May 15.
For Friday’s race, Motakhayyel will carry 130 pounds, two pounds less than topweight Canelo. Tysonic is the highest-rated runner in the field, but gets a three-pound weight break to 131 because of the presence of apprentice rider Will Price.
Tysonic is better suited to races at 1 1/4 miles and could find the distance on Friday a bit too sharp.
Canelo won a six-furlong handicap in March, and has since finished third, 10th and fourth in three starts.
First post time at Donald is 10:30 p.m. Eastern, or 7:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.