Australia: Visinari's recent win earns him a start in the Sale Cup

It took a few starts, and a key barn change, before Visinari was successful in Australian racing earlier this year.

Visinari lost his first two races in the country last year when trained by Sam Kavanagh, but has won 4 of 6 starts this year for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. The current successful campaign includes Visinari’s Australian stakes debut in The Headquarters Stakes at seven furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 1.

The win has led to Visinari’s appearance in the Sale Cup at a mile at Sale Racecourse across American time zones on Saturday evening. The $127,700 Sale Cup is Visinari’s richest race in Australia.

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A 5-year-old French-bred gelding, Visinari will be ridden by Jamie Kah, who was aboard for the win in The Headquarters Stakes. Visinari was always near the front and won by a short head over Mr Exclusive, who is part of a field of 13 in the Sale Cup.

Visinari was 3-2 in early betting on Friday, while Mr Exclusive was 18-1.

Uncle Bryn poses a threat to Visinari even though he was last of 15 in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse on Oct. 8. Uncle Bryn was steadied more than a furlong from the finish and lost his action, jockey Daniel Moor told track stewards.

Last month, Uncle Bryn was second by three-quarters of a length in the Group 3 Foundation Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Caulfield, finishing in front of Gold Trip, who was later second in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup earlier this month.

Uncle Bryn won his only previous start at Sale, in an allowance race at about 1 1/16 miles in April.

Bermadez, second in a lucrative handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Sept. 25, is another well-regarded runner with a win at Sale - a handicap on the Sale Cup undercard last October.

While Uncle Bryn is a closer, Bermadez tends to run as a stalker.

Sale has a nine-race program beginning at 9:45 p.m. Eastern or 6:45 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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