Australia: Tuvalu brings solid class lines to Warrnambool handicap feature

The Australian gelding Tuvalu had a fine start to his career in 2021, winning three of his first five starts.

The race record looks more impressive now than it did last year.

Unraced since August, Tuvalu resumes racing in a seven-furlong handicap at Warrnambool Racecourse west of Melbourne on Thursday. Tuvalu won his debut at Warrnambool in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs last January.

Trained by Lindsey Smith, who is based at Warrnambool, the 4-year-old Tuvalu has not raced since an easy win against two rivals in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne in August.

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Tuvalu’s two losses occurred in consecutive starts in handicaps last July, when he was beaten in both races by I’m Thunderstuck, whose career has since taken off. I’m Thunderstruck won the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 9 and the $5.64 million Golden Eagle Stakes for 4-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens on Oct. 31, Australia’s third-richest race.

Tuvalu was beaten a half-length by I’m Thunderstruck in a handicap at about 7 1/2 furlongs at Moonee Valley last July.

At Warrnambool, Tuvalu is part of a field of 13 in the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Tuvalu, who will be ridden for the first time by Jarrod Fry, tends to run near the front. He is well drawn in post 6 for that style of racing.

Polanco and Zoltan, who have recent stakes experience, are capable of top-three finishes.

Polanco, who starts from the rail, was third in a lucrative handicap at seven furlongs at Caulfield on Jan. 8, finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind the eight-time winner Open Minded. Polanco, who was fifth in the Barton Stakes at seven furlongs in January 2021, is winless in nine starts since August 2020.

Zoltan was fifth in the Group 2 Couplan’s Bakeries Mile in New Zealand in November and was seventh of 14, beaten slightly more than two lengths, in his Australia debut in a seven-furlong handicap at Caulfield on Dec. 26.