Australia: Troubled-trip winner Sanstoc favored at Warwick Farm

A bad start and traffic issues could not prevent Sanstoc from winning her first start of 2023 in Australia earlier this month.

The gritty win, the third in eight career starts for the New Zealand-bred 4-year-old filly, has led to a high-profile role in a seven-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.

Sanstoc was the 2-1 favorite in early betting to beat eight rivals, including contenders such as Arranmore, Minouche, and Kibosh.

Sanstoc had her first start for trainer Mark Newnham in her win on Feb. 15 on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse. Sanstoc was bothered by a rival shortly after her slow start. She raced in traffic until the final sixteenth when she closed with a rush from seventh in a field of 10 to win by 1 3/4 lengths in her first start since September.

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In her two previous wins, at 7 1/2 furlongs and a mile, Sanstoc raced closer to the pace early.

In Tuesday’s race, Sanstoc will be joined in a stalking position by Arranmore, who was sixth in the Feb. 15 race on the Kensington course after a troubled trip. Arranmore raced on the inside and lacked racing room on the turn. She failed to recover and was beaten 5 1/4 lengths.

This has been a busy year for Arranmore, who has already had four starts. She won a seven-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Warwick Farm on Jan. 11 at the same class level as Tuesday’s race.

The 5-year-old Kibosh faces a key class drop from her last three starts, all in handicaps ranging at distances from six furlongs to 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney.

Kibosh, who tends to race closer to the front, missed all of 2022. She has won three of 13 starts in her career, with the wins at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile.

Warwick Farm has an eight-race program beginning at 9:45 p.m. Eastern or 6:45 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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