Herzegovina should handle layoff at Muswellbrook

Layoffs have not been an issue for the 5-year-old Australian gelding Herzegovina, who starts in a five-furlong handicap at Muswellbrook Racecourse on Monday.

Herzegovina has not raced since a ninth in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farm on Sept. 2. A winner of 4 of 27 starts, Herzegovina won a handicap in June 2019 after a layoff of more than seven months.

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Trained by Stephen Jones, Herzegovina was winless in 15 starts in 2020, finishing second or third in eight races. Herzegovina, who is quick enough to set the pace, has won from the front and as a stalker.

Monday race drew a field of 10 and is the sixth race on an eight-race program that begins at 9:20 p.m. Eastern or 6:20 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering and viewing is available through DRFBets.com.

Runners such as Bryan’s Babe and Drachenfels pose a threat to Herzegovina.

Bryan’s Babe won a five-furlong handicap at Gunnedah Racecourse on Dec. 5, but was fourth in his next two starts at Dubbo on Dec. 19 and Gilgandra on Jan. 3 in sprint handicaps. Bryan’s Babe won a five-furlong handicap at Muswellbrook in 2018 and has since finished fourth and second in his only other two appearances at the small track, located about 150 miles north of Sydney.

Drachenfels, a winner of 4 of 46 starts, was sixth of 13 in the minor Moree Cup at Moree Racecourse on Sept. 6 in his last start. Drachenfels is winless in 33 starts since December 2017, but was second in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook in June, beaten a neck.