Australia: Tresse D'Or goes longer in Mudgee handicap
Tresse D’Or easily handled the longest race of his career when he won a handicap at 1 1/4 miles on May 23 at Mudgee Racecourse in Australia.
Always near the front, Tresse D’Or won by a neck as the 7-2 second choice in a field of 13.
The experience will be handy when Tresse D’Or starts in a tougher handicap at 1 5/8 miles on Thursday at Gosford Racecourse. Race tactics may work in favor of Tresse D’Or, a 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding, who will carry 127.8 pounds.
Castel Sant’Angelo is the 136.6-pound topweight and is likely to set the pace. A 4-year-old gelding Castel Sant’Angelo took an early lead in a two-mile handicap on May 22 at Stawell Racecourse and was caught late, finishing third by 1 1/2 lengths as the 3-2 favorite.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Castel Sant’Angelo figures to be well-backed again Thursday at this shorter distance. Castel Sant’Angelo won over 1 3/8 miles earlier in his career.
Tresse D’Or, who is trained by Jarrod Austin, figures to race from a stalking position. Shaun Guymer, who was aboard for the May 23 race, has the mount.
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Thursday’s handicap will have a maximum field of 12 runners and is part of an eight-race program at Gosford, which has a first post time of 10:10 p.m. Eastern, or 7:10 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Gosford is located on the Australian East Coast, north of Sydney.
While all of the runners have some experience in distance races, Kellstorm is the only runner that has won at 1 5/8 miles.
Kellstorm, an Irish-bred 7-year-old horse, won a handicap at that distance at Morphettville in October 2018 and three consecutive races at that venue at 1 9/16 miles in 2017. Kellstorm is winless in 21 starts since the victory in October 2018.
Thursday, Kellstorm will carry 129 pounds, benefiting from the presence of apprentice jockey Louise Day. Kellstorm was eighth in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles on May 22 at Coffs Harbour.
Of the runners with lower weights, the 3-year-old gelding Gunaluva at 125.6 pounds could be a factor. He won a maiden race at about 1 1/2 miles in his fifth career start May 23 at Newcastle and will start in the longest race of his career Thursday.