Distance, current form give Korcho edge in Taree Cup
Halfway through his first year of racing in Australia, the British-bred gelding Korcho has become acclimated to the surroundings. He was eighth in his first two starts in May and June before winning consecutive handicaps at Rosehill Gardens in July.
The recent wins have left Korcho as a slight favorite in Sunday’s Taree Cup over 1 1/4 miles at Taree Racecourse. The distance is a good fit for the 5-year-old. At Rosehill Gardens, Korcho closed from fifth of nine to win a handicap at 1 1/4 miles on July 11. Two weeks later, Korcho closed from fourth of 12 to win a handicap at 1 1/2 miles as the 5-2 favorite.
The Taree Cup drew a full field of 16 and is the top race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:20 p.m. Eastern, or 7:20 p.m. Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Korcho, trained by Kris Lees, has won 5 of 16 starts. In England, Korcho won three times, including two handicaps at 1 1/4 miles at Windsor Racecourse in 2019 when trained by Hughie Morrison.
Korcho was 20th of 30 at 16-1 in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Newmarket last September in his final start in England.
Sunday, Korcho will carry 132 pounds, slightly less than topweight High Opinion at 133 pounds.
Korcho’s top rival is Home Ground, who won the 2018 Geelong Classic and was fifth in the Group 1 Victorian Derby at Flemington a few weeks later. Home Ground did not race again until July 1 of this year and is winless in three starts in his current campaign.
Trained by John Sargent, Home Ground was an encouraging second by 1 1/4 lengths in a handicap at 1 3/16 miles at Canterbury Park on Aug. 1.
The Taree Cup has a purse of $71,600. The richest race in Australia on Sunday is the $250,600 Grand National Steeplechase at 2 13/16 miles at Ballarat.
Ablaze, a 9-year-old gelding unbeaten in five starts in jump races, was the even-money favorite in early betting on Sunday. Ablaze won the Grand National Hurdle on Aug. 2 under jockey Shane Jackson, who has the mount on Sunday.
Bee Tee Junior, second in the Grand National Hurdle, will have his first start over fences on Sunday. Ablaze has won two starts over fences and three races over less severe hurdles.
First post time at Ballarat is 11 p.m., Eastern, or 8 p.m., Pacific, on Saturday.