Australia: Zaunkonig in sharp form for TAB Handicap at Royal Randwick
Zaunkonig was second in the Tamworth Cup in Australia on April 26, the 7-year-old gelding’s first start since September. Zaunkonig was 50-1 and closed from eighth in a field of 14 to miss by a nose to Ligulate in the seven-furlong handicap.
More than three weeks later, Zaunkonig appears to have conditions in his favor in the TAB Handicap at 7 3/4 furlongs on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The Kensington course is the inner turf course at Randwick.
Zaunkonig is part of an intriguing field of 12 that includes three European imports – My Swashbuckler, Korcho, and Spirit Ridge.
Richard and Michael Freedman train Zaunkonig, a winner of 5 of 31 starts. Zaunkonig is winless in his last four starts, since winning the Bathurst Cup, a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at the track of the same name last September.
The TAB Handicap is the last of seven races on a program that begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Zaunkonig will carry 134.4 pounds, since apprentice jockey Jean Van Overmeire claims a 2.2-pound allowance, or one kilo. Overmeire rode Zaunkonig to a second in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Gosford Racecourse last October in the gelding’s second-to-last start of 2019.
Zaunkonig ran near the front in longer races, but closed from off the pace in the Tamworth Cup.
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Pelethronius, a 7-year-old gelding winless in his last five starts, is the 137.7-pound highweight. Pelethronius won consecutive handicaps at a mile last July. He was fifth and 11th in handicaps in April as a longshot.
Of the three European imports, My Swashbuckler is the most accomplished, having finished third in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp in Paris on the weekend of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2018. Now trained by Kris Lees, My Swashbuckler, who will carry 134.4 pounds, has not raced since finishing 10th of 11 in the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at 1 7/8 miles at Longchamp last May.
This distance seems well short of My Swashbuckler’s best trip.
Kurcho, who will carry 132 pounds, was 20th of 30 in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Newmarket Racecourse in England last September.
Spirit Ridge, who will carry 131 pounds, has won 2 of 8 starts, all in England, often at distances of 1 1/2 miles to 1 3/4 miles.
Of the runners with established Australian form, Casino Mondial (132 pounds) is a threat from the front. A 5-year-old gelding, Casino Mondial has won two of his last three starts, including a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Newcastle on May 2.