Australia: Vulpine should run well fresh in handicap sprint at Grafton
Considering Vulpine’s record earlier this year, she should be competitive in a five-furlong handicap at Grafton Racecourse in Australia on Thursday.
Vulpine, a 4-year-old in the Southern Hemisphere, won the sixth start of her career in a maiden race at five furlongs at Kembla Grange Racecourse in May, her first start since January. In June and July, Vulpine made three more starts, winning a five-furlong handicap at Gosford Racecourse during that span in July.
Thursday’s race is Vulpine’s first start since July 18. The layoff may not be a hindrance for a filly who has shown the ability to race well following a rest.
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Thursday’s handicap is the fifth race on a six-race program that begins at 11:10 p.m. Eastern, or 8:10 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Vulpine, trained by Brad Widdup, will carry 125.6 pounds, an assignment reduced by the presence of apprentice jockey Brock Ryan. On July 18, Ryan rode Vulpine to a third-place finish in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick against a tougher field than what she will face on Thursday.
Gidgee Guy, a winner of 4 of 21 starts, is the topweight at 131 pounds. Gidgee Guy won a five-furlong handicap at Tamworth on Sept. 28 and was second by 1 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury on Oct. 11. He tends to run from off the pace.
Hibiscus Lady was assigned top weight of 132 pounds, but will carry 125.6 pounds since jockey Dylan Gibbons claims three kilograms, or approximately 6.4 pounds.
Hibiscus Lady has won 3 of 14 starts, but has not raced since a last-place finish of 10 in a six-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens on July 25.
They are all likely to be in pursuit of Vox Pop, a winner of 2 of 7 starts who often sets the pace. Vox Pop was sixth of nine in a handicap at 4 1/2 furlongs at Newcastle on Oct. 17 in his first start since early May.