Lesham has weighty task at Australia's Mornington Racecourse

The lightly raced gelding Lesham will face winners for the first time in a six-furlong handicap at Mornington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday.

While Lesham will carry top weight of 135 pounds in a field of 12, he may be able to overcome that to win his second consecutive race of the Southern Hemisphere autumn.

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Trained by Damien Williams, Lesham, a 4-year-old gelding, won a six-furlong maiden race by a half-length at Cranbourne on April 3, his second start of 2020 and the fourth race of his career. Lesham led throughout under jockey Brian Higgins, who has the mount on Monday.

Mornington is one of two racecourses operating in Australia on Monday, or late Sunday night and into Monday morning across American time zones. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Lesham is one of three runners in Monday’s field with a win in their last start. Aristobeaux (134 pounds) won a six-furlong handicap for nonwinners of two at Mornington on April 12, his second win in 21 starts.

Aristobeaux is a closer. The recent win ended a 19-race losing streak since December 2017 for the 5-year-old gelding. Aristobeaux has had four trainers since his first win.

The 6-year-old mare Stryking Miss won a handicap at about 1 3/8 miles on turf at Sale Racecourse in January. This will be her first start at six furlongs since a third in a handicap last November.

Stryking Miss, who typically races as a stalker, is trained by Brett Scott, who is based at Mornington. Stryking Miss won a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Mornington in January 2019.