Australia: Trooper Knuckle in sharp form for Bega Cup

Trooper Knuckle did little right in his first four starts in Australia from March to October of 2022. Since then, he has been nearly perfect, winning four of five races.

The improved form has left Trooper Knuckle as an attractive contender in the Bega Cup at Sapphire Coast Racecourse on Saturday evening.

Trooper Knuckle, who is trained by Keith Dryden, will be ridden by Brendan Ward from post 4 in a full field of 16.

Ward rode Trooper Knuckle to consecutive wins in November and early December in handicaps at six furlongs and about 7 1/4 furlongs, and to a second-place finish by 2 1/2 lengths in a handicap at seven furlongs on Dec. 30.

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Trooper Knuckle, who tends to race as a stalker, rebounded from that loss to win a lucrative handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Jan. 14. The Bega Cup will be the 5-year-old gelding’s first start at a mile since a seventh in a maiden race at Sapphire Coast last May.

The Bega Cup is part of an eight-race program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Bega Cup field is led by Manderboss, a 4-year-old gelding who has won 3 of 17 starts, but is winless in eight starts since late April. Manderboss has started in lucrative handicap at tracks in Sydney since the first of November, finishing second twice and third once in a span of five races.

A slightly easier field at Sapphire Coast will help Manderboss, who races from off the pace.

This’llbetheone, winless in his last three starts, poses a threat from a tracking position. A winner of 3 of 12 starts, This’llbetheone was sixth of eight in a one-mile handicap for Southern Hemisphere 3- and 4-year-olds at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 24, but does not face as tough of a field in the Bega Cup.

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