Australia: Typhoon Harmony benefits from Chapman's weight allowance
Australian apprentice jockey Tianna Chapman will always remember Typhoon Harmony, the 4-year-old gelding who gave the 22-year-old rider her first win with her third career mount at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on June 18.
Chapman has since added to that success, winning a second race at Moe Racecourse on June 24. Her next mount is aboard Typhoon Harmony in a handicap at about 6 1/2 furlongs at Geelong on Friday.
Typhoon Harmony, a winner of 2 of 5 starts, is trained by Peter Gelagotis, who has provided Chapman with her two wins in six mounts.
In the June 18 race, Chapman moved Typhoon Harmony from a position between horses to secure running room, prevailing by a head.
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The presence of Chapman gives Typhoon Harmony a tremendous weight break in the upcoming Geelong handicap. Typhoon Harmony was assigned 135.5 pounds in the handicap, but will carry 126.7 because of Chapman’s apprentice allowance.
Typhoon Harmony was 5-1 when he closed from sixth of 14 to win the June 18 handicap at about 5 1/2 furlongs at Geelong in his first start since January.
Geelong has a nine-race program beginning at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, or 7:30 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Typhoon Harmony is part of a full field of 13. First Mate, fifth by 1 3/4 lengths behind Typhoon Harmony on June 18 in his first start since February, is part of Friday’s race.
The 3-year-old gelding On The Program may race near the front in his first start since a win in a maiden race at about seven furlongs at Sale Racecourse on Jan. 3 in his fourth start.
The only other runner in the field with a last-race win is Inkslinger, a 5-year-old gelding. Inkslinger won a handicap against a lesser class of runners at six furlongs at Bendigo Racecourse on June 5 for his third win in 27 starts. Inkslinger is rated as an outsider in Friday’s race, while Typhoon Harmony is expected to be favored.