Australia: Villaden steps up after ending 12-race win drought

Villaden was mired in a 12-race losing streak when he won a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 21.

Villaden handled the extended distance without difficulty, closing from fourth to win by more than a length in the longest win of his 14-race career.

Villaden’s next assignment is a handicap at the same course and distance against a higher class of rivals on Tuesday evening across American time zones.

A 4-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Villaden is trained by Chris Waller and will be ridden by jockey James McDonald, one of the most high-profile combinations in Australian racing.

Their involvement assures that Villaden will be favored against eight rivals in the fourth race on a seven-race program at Warwick Farm that begins at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, or 7:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Villaden drew post 7, which should work with his closing style.

Endorphins, a two-time winner at 1 3/8 miles, and Real Peace, who has won at 1 1/4 miles, are two other well-regarded runners even though both struggled through the second half of 2022.

Endorphins, a 5-year-old mare who has won 4 of 29 starts, is winless in seven starts since a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles on the synthetic track at Sunshine Coast in May. Endorphins won a handicap at 1 3/8 miles at Scone in September 2021 from off the pace.

In her last start, Endorphins finished with interest to be fourth by 2 1/2 lengths in a handicap at about 1 1/8 miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Dec. 21.
Real Peace, a 5-year-old gelding who has won 3 of 29 starts, was eighth in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Racecourse on Dec. 16, but lost by only 2 1/4 lengths for his eighth loss since a win in a one-mile handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse in May.