Australia: Travelling Kate needs patient handling in handicap

Travelling Kate was on a two-race winning streak in Australia when she started in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney on Aug. 26.

She raced closer to the front than in her wins and failed to sustain her run, tiring to finish last of nine.

Chances are Travelling Kate will be given a more patient ride in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park on Tuesday evening.

Travelling Kate won at Canterbury in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles on July 26, the first of the two recent wins. She closed from fourth to win by slightly less than a half-length. In the second of those wins, Travelling Kate was ridden in a similar manner in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Rosehill Gardens on Aug. 12, winning by a short head.

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

In this race at Canterbury, Travelling Kate is part of a field of eight and will be ridden by apprentice Jeff Stanley. With Stanley aboard, the weight assignment is reduced from 135.5 pounds to 129. Travelling Kate will share top weight with Two Big Fari, another contender.

Two Big Fari will start at 1 3/16 miles for the first time in his 36th start. An 8-year-old gelding, Two Big Fari has won seven races, and nearly won the Narromine Cup at a mile at Narromine Racecourse on Aug. 20.

Two Big Fari was always near the front, led briefly and was beaten three-quarters of a length by a rival who carried nine fewer pounds.

The 4-year-old gelding State of America should have no issue with the distance. A winner of 2 of 13 starts, State of America won for the first time at 1 1/4 miles at Hawkesbury Racecourse on Sept. 2, closing from sixth in a field of nine. He pulled clear to win by 2 2/3 lengths. The race at Canterbury represents a higher class level, however.

Canterbury has a seven-race program beginning at 11:25 p.m. Eastern or 8:25 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.