Australia: Wellington Boot Showcase rescheduled for Tuesday due to rain

Excessive rain has forced alterations to the racing schedule in the Australian state of New South Wales in recent days.

Last Saturday, a program of major stakes at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney was moved to Newcastle Racecourse in the northern part of the state. Those races will be run on Monday.

Wellington Racecourse was scheduled to race on Sunday, but was rained out. The program will be held on Tuesday, led by the $151,000 Wellington Boot Showcase for Southern Hemisphere-bred 2-year-olds.

The three principal runners scheduled to start on Sunday – the maiden fillies Deep Expectation and Sweet Baby Boom, and Last Bid Liam, a colt with two wins – remain in the full field of 14.

The Wellington Boot is run at 5 1/2 furlongs and is the track’s richest race.

Last Bid Liam has won 2 of 5 starts, with the wins in consecutive starts in a five-furlong handicap at Dubbo on Feb. 13, and a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Coonamble on March 13. Last Bid Liam set the pace at Dubbo, and won from a stalking position at Coonamble.

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Last Bid Liam should have an ample pace to follow in the Wellington Boot, the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:15 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Deep Expectation was the 5-2 favorite in early betting even though the filly is winless in four starts with two second-place finishes. Trained by Peter Robl, Deep Expectation was second by 2 1/4 lengths in a maiden race at Canterbury Park on March 13 behind favored Willinga Beast.

Deep Expectation was well placed throughout and dueled briefly for the lead before fading. Sweet Baby Boom was sent to the front in that maiden race and led into the stretch, but could not sustain the effort, finishing third by 2 1/2 lengths in her first career start.

Sweet Baby Boom, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, is likely to be near the front early in the Wellington Boot. Jockey Winona Costa takes the mount on Sweet Baby Boom for the first time.

Aside from Last Bid Liam, the other winners in the field are the colt Spinosaurus, who won his lone start at 4 1/2 furlongs in October; and the fillies Nalabelle and Ventus.

Nalabelle led throughout a five-furlong maiden race in her debut on Feb. 10 and was seventh of 10 in a minor handicap at five furlongs at Canberra on Feb. 25. Ventus won her debut in a five-furlong handicap at Quirindi on Feb. 18.

Scone Tuesday preview

Prior to the rescheduling of Wellington, the main card in New South Wales on Tuesday was intended to be a seven-race program at Scone Racecourse.

One of the main races is a handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf, which will be the longest start for the improving stayer Antigonus.

A 4-year-old gelding, Antigonus’s career changed last month when he was tried at 1 1/4 miles for the first time at Canberra Racecourse.

Antigonus had one win in his previous four starts, and thrived at the longer distance at Canberra by leading throughout. Antigonus won his second start at 1 1/4 miles in a handicap at Wagga Wagga Racecourse on March 17.

On Tuesday at Scone Racecourse, the theme continues when Antigonus starts as the expected favorite in a handicap at 1 3/8 miles. Trained by Glenda Maxwell, Antigonus seems well suited to the distance. While he set the pace at Canberra, Antigonus stalked the pace at Wagga Wagga.

Jockey Jean Van Overmeire, who was aboard for the win at Canberra, has the mount.

There is no clear second choice to oppose Antigonus. Endorphins, Picaro, and Rockover have all run competitive races in recent starts, and are capable of threatening Antigonus.

The Scone program begins at 10:35 p.m. Eastern on Monday.