Australia: Wahine Toa rounding back into form at Sandown

Wahine Toa did not have a 2021 season.

She finished fourth in November 2020 and did not race again until May of this year when she was 12th of 15 in a handicap at Warrnambool Racecourse. After a more encouraging fourth by a length on June 13, Wahine Toa looks capable of winning for the second time in her career in a handicap for fillies and mares at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Wahine Toa is winless in seven starts since winning a maiden race at 1 3/8 miles at Sale Racecourse on March 29, 2020.

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On June 13, Wahine Toa finished well to miss by a length in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares at Mornington Racecourse. She closed from eighth in the stretch.

At Sandown, Wahine Toa is part of a field of 11 in the second of eight races on a program that begins at 10:25 p.m. Eastern or 7:25 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Wahine Toa was favored in early betting on Monday, but the New Zealand-bred mare Chatelaine appears a danger. Trained by Patrick Payne, Chatelaine is unbeaten in two starts this year – a handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs at Kilmore Racecourse on May 12 and a one-mile handicap at Hamilton Racecourse on May 31.

In both of those wins, Chatelaine closed from off the pace.

This extended distance should not pose a problem for Chatelaine, a winner of 4 of 20 starts. She won a handicap against lesser rivals at 1 3/8 miles at Bendigo in June 2021, and was later fourth in handicaps at 1 1/2 miles that season, losing one of those races by two lengths.

She’s a Karaka and Love Takes Time, who were second and third in front of Wahine Toa at Mornington on June 13, are part of this field at Sandown. They are rated as mid-priced longshots against a familiar rival.