Australia: True Marvel brings confidence from last-start win to handicap

Eight races into his career, True Marvel won for the first time in a maiden race on March 23 at Goulborn Racecourse in Australia.

The breakthrough may have come at a favorable time. True Marvel is the only runner in a field of eight in Tuesday’s first race at Newcastle Racecourse with a victory in their last start. Four of the runners were third in their last outing.

The first race, a handicap at 1 7/16 miles, is part of a seven-race program that begins at 10:45 p.m. Eastern on Monday, or 7:45 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

True Marvel, trained by Matthew Smith, is a gelding who only turned 4 last month. True Marvel was bred in France, but did not race there. His career began in Australia last July. This is True Marvel’s third start at Newcastle after he finished fifth and seventh in races against winners last August and September.

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In the maiden race win on March 23, True Marvel closed from sixth to win by a head as a 30-1 outsider in a field of 13. Tuesday, True Marvel will carry 122 pounds, 10 less than topweight Think Straight, who has one win in seven starts for trainer Anthony Cummings. Think Straight was ninth of 13 in a tougher handicap at Kembra Grange Racecourse on April 7.

Tuesday’s race is restricted to horses who have not won twice.

Conditions should work in favor of the 3-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding Sciconic and 4-year-old mare Catalanic, even though they are both winless in their last six starts.

Sciconic was third in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Wyong Racecourse on March 28, beaten a half-length. Sciconic has had 10 starts and won a maiden race at a mile at Kembra Grange last September.

Catalanic, one of three females in Tuesday’s race, was third by 1 1/2 lengths in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Tamworth on April 7.

Tuesday, Sciconic will carry 123 pounds, while Catalanic will carry 121 pounds.

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