Australia: Two go from jumps for flat at Geelong

Beaten in hurdle races in their last starts, Laughing Grizzley and Stan the Caddy return to flat racing in a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Geelong Racecourse outside of Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday evening across American time zones.

Both have recent races that indicate they can win on the flat in a field of 10.

Laughing Grizzley, the favorite at 7-2 in early betting on Tuesday, was third by 2 1/4 lengths in a handicap at 1 9/16 miles at Cranbourne Racecourse on July 7, and third in a maiden hurdle at 2 1/8 miles in his debut over obstacles later in July.

Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent, Jr., Laughing Grizzley has won 2 of 17 starts in his career, but is winless in his last nine starts. The wins were at 1 3/8 miles in races in which Laughing Grizzley raced near the front. At Cranbourne, Laughing Grizzley had a slow start and raced wide in the stretch, losing by 2 1/4 lengths.

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Stan the Caddy, 5-1 as of Tuesday, won a handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Moe Racecourse on July 16 and faces a tougher group of handicap runners in this field. Stan the Caddy was a well-beaten third in a maiden hurdle at 2 1/16 miles at Coleraine Racecourse on Aug. 14 in his first start over hurdles.

A winner of 5 of 26 starts, Stan the Caddy has won at distances ranging from about six furlongs to 1 1/2 miles. Trained by Steve Pateman, Stan the Caddy is most effective when tracking the pace.

This race at Geelong will be the first start against winners for Mr Lincoln, who won a maiden race at 1 1/2 miles at Bendigo Racecourse on Aug. 14 in a 14-1 upset. He will be closing from the back of the field under jockey Declan Bates, his fifth different rider.

Geelong has a 10-race program beginning at 10:30 p.m. Eastern or 7:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.