Australia: Waller, McDonald formidable team at Rosehill Gardens

The lightly raced gelding Carrazana will be a strong favorite to win his second consecutive start in a seven-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday evening, the first time the New Zealand-bred will be ridden by top jockey James McDonald.

McDonald, a native of New Zealand who has led the Australian standings in recent years in money earnings, has four mounts on a seven-race program at Rosehill Gardens, his first day of riding since he sustained an ankle injury on Sept. 2.

Carrazana is part of a field of 10 and one of four runners in the field trained by Chris Waller, who has led Australia’s trainers in money earnings in recent years.

McDonald’s four mounts are all for Waller on a seven-race program, which begins at midnight Eastern on Wednesday or 9 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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Carrazana, the 3-2 favorite as of Monday, was fourth by slightly more than two lengths in a six-furlong maiden race at Warwick Farm on Aug. 9 in his debut. He won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Aug. 23, closing from last of nine to win by slightly more than a length.

Nash Rawiller rode Carrazana in the maiden win and is aboard the outsider Chrysaor for Waller in the seven-furlong handicap at Rosehill Gardens. Chrysaor was last of nine, beaten a little more than 2 1/2 lengths, in the Group 2 Run to the Rose Stakes at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 9.

Last May, Rawiller rode Chrysaor to a third-place finish by 1 1/4 lengths in a Group 2 stakes at seven furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Eagle Farm.

Waller’s other runners that will race against Carrazana and Chrysaor are Yasuke and the well-regarded Mchale.

Mchale will be ridden by former Hong Kong leading jockey Joao Moreira, who is riding in Australia on a temporary basis. Moreira, a native of Brazil, won the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes for Waller last weekend.

Mchale has started twice in his career, with both races at Canterbury Racecourse – a win in a maiden race in July, and a fourth by four lengths after a wide trip in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs on Sept. 13.

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