Australia: At Witz End takes aim at the Murwillumbah Cup

Australian cup races at smaller venues have become common in the 2020 campaign of At Witz End, the 5-year-old Southern Hemisphere gelding.

The races are often competitive handicaps and are some of the biggest events at each track. In a normal year, cup days would be a local draw, even on a weekday. This year, Australian tracks, like so many around the world, are not hosting spectators.

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At Witz End was fifth of 13 in the Maclean Cup at Grafton on July 12 and won the Casino Cup at Casino Racecourse on Aug. 15. Friday, At Witz End will start in the Murwillumbah Cup at 7 3/4 furlongs in his debut at Murwillumbah Racecourse, located south of Gold Coast in northern New South Wales.

Trained by Owen Glue, At Witz End has won 7 of 25 starts. The recent win in the Casino Cup at seven furlongs ended a three-race losing streak. At Witz End was always near the front and won by more than a half-length under jockey Belinda Hodder, who has the mount on Friday.

At Witz End’s main rivals are Exclusive and Saxton Rock.

Exclusive was second in the Casino Cup, a much brighter result than a last-place finish in a field of 14 in the Ramornie Handicap, a listed race at six furlongs at Grafton Racecourse in July.

Exclusive will carry topweight of 134.4 pounds compared to 132 for Saxton Rock and 124.5 pounds for At Witz End.

Saxton Rock, the expected favorite in the Murwillumbah Cup, won the Maclean Cup at Grafton, and was fourth against a much tougher field in the Coffs Harbour Cup at a mile on Aug. 6.

The Murwillumbah Cup is the fifth of seven races on a program that begins at 10:59 p.m. Eastern or 7:59 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.