Australia: Vandangle on a roll coming into handicap at Tamworth

The wins continue to accumulate while the competition gets slightly tougher for Vandangle, the 4-year-old Australian gelding.

Vandangle won his fourth start against maidens at seven furlongs at Tuncurry Racecourse on Jan. 15 and his debut against winners in a one-mile handicap at Tamworth on Jan. 29.

Those consecutive wins have led to a start in another one-mile handicap at Tamworth on Monday against a better field. Vandangle was favored in his recent wins and will be the choice again on Monday in a field of 12.

Trained by William Freedman, Vandangle was third and fifth in maiden races in August and September before he was rested for nearly four months. Vandangle was second in his comeback on Jan. 2 in advance of the two recent wins. In all three starts this year, Vandangle has raced as a stalker.

Jockey Ben Looker was aboard for the January wins and retains the mount in this race.

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Tamworth has a seven-race program beginning at 10:10 p.m. Eastern, or 7:10 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Vandangle breaks from post 10, which will suit his stalking style. Mr Severino drew the rail and is rated as a leading threat to Vandangle. A winner of 2 of 12 starts, Mr Severino ended an eight-race losing streak with a win as the 2-1 favorite in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Walcha Racecourse on Feb. 4.

At Tamworth, Mr Severino drew the rail, which will put pressure on jockey Rory Hutchings to find a clear path in a large field. Hutchings was aboard Mr Severino for the recent win.

The field is likely to be in pursuit of pacesetter Scarleo, a 5-year-old gelding who has won 3 of 26 starts, but has struggled lately. Scarleo is winless in 16 starts since September 2020, often setting the pace and fading. Scarleo was third in November in a one-mile handicap at this level at Sapphire Coast Racecourse.

Home Affairs pulls upset

Home Affairs ($12) held off an unlucky Nature Strip to win Saturday’s $720,000 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne for his second consecutive Group 1 win.

Nature Strip, the 2019-20 Australian Horse of the Year, was squeezed at the start of the race on a straightaway course, but recovered quickly. Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Nature Strip closed well to finish a nose behind Home Affairs.

The first two finishers are trained by Chris Waller. Jockey James McDonald had ridden both horses in recent starts, and rode Home Affairs as part of a reported deal with the Coolmore syndicate, which co-owns the Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old colt. Jamie Kah rode Nature Strip and was aboard the 7-year-old gelding for a win in the 2021 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.

Saturday’s race drew a strong field. The multiple Group 1 winner Eduardo finished third at 5-2, beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

Home Affairs, by I Am Invincible, has won 4 of 8 starts. The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes was the first start for Home Affairs since a win in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Flemington on Oct. 30.