Australia: Unrelenting gets big-name rider for handicap

The booking of big-race rider James McDonald is certain to draw attention to the gelding Unrelenting in a one-mile handicap at Warwick Farm in Australia on Tuesday evening across American time zones.

Unrelenting, a winner of 2 of 14 starts, is winless in eight starts since June 2021. This is the first time that McDonald has ridden Unrelenting, a 5-year-old gelding trained by Gary Portelli.

McDonald is currently second in the standings in Australia with 76 wins through Monday, trailing leader Jason Orman by four wins. McDonald is the clear leader in purse earnings. Australia’s racing season began on Aug. 1 and runs through July.

Unrelenting is part of a field of 11 in the fifth of seven races on a Warwick Farm program that begins at 10:20 p.m. Eastern or 7:20 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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The race is restricted to 5-year-olds and up. Unrelenting drew the rail and is likely to be forward early because of his pacesetting style and inside post. Unrelenting was fifth by 1 1/2 lengths in a seven-furlong handicap on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Dec. 2 when ridden by the apprentice Tyler Schiller.

Schiller has a leading mount against Unrelenting on Tuesday evening with the German-bred Taraashoq who was second to Duke of Buckingham in a five-runner handicap for males at a mile at Warwick Farm on Dec. 7. Taraashoq set the pace and was beaten a length.

Duke of Buckingham was an early favorite at 5-2 for this Warwick Farm race as of Monday morning. A winner of 5 of 19 starts, Duke of Buckingham has won his last two races and because of his success has risen in the Australian handicap ratings.

Duke of Buckingham was booked to carry 133 pounds on Tuesday evening, but the booking of apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd reduces the assignment to 129 pounds.

Duke of Buckingham races as a stalker. A potential speed duel between Taraashoq and Unrelenting could allow for a third consecutive win for Duke of Buckingham.

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