Streaking Melarita favored in handicap at Mornington Racecourse in Australia

Melarita, a 5-year-old New Zealand-bred mare, has won three of four starts in Australia since she returned to racing in April after a six-month break.

Her only loss in that span was a third in a handicap for fillies and mares at Sandown Racecourse on July 1. Melarita rebounded to win a handicap against males at Sandown Racecourse on Aug. 1.

That victory, and her overall recent record, makes Melarita an odds-on favorite to win again in a handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles at Mornington Racecourse near Melbourne on Thursday.

Melarita an odds-on favorite to win again in a handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles at Mornington Racecourse near Melbourne on Thursday.

Trained by the partnership of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Melarita was winless in her first six starts through October 2019. She won her 2020 debut in a maiden race at Mornington at 7 1/2 furlongs in April to start the current span of solid results.

Thursday’s handicap is the sixth race on an eight-race program that begins at 11:30 p.m. Eastern, or 8:30 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Melarita, who will be ridden by Ben Pelham, will carry 133 pounds, slightly less than topweight Pelonomena at 134.4 pounds.

Pelonomena finished fifth of 10 in the Stayers Cup at two miles at Rosehill Gardens on June 27 in her latest start and seems better suited to a race at 1 1/4 miles. A 6-year-old mare, she won a handicap against males at 1 1/2 miles at Sandown Racecourse on May 13.

The 4-year-old filly Ocean Miss ran in Group 1 races as recently as November, finishing 13th in the Victorian Oaks at Flemington. She was given a seven-month rest following that race and has won 2 of 4 starts this year.

Ocean Miss was fifth of 10 in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Sandown on Aug. 12, finishing about four lengths behind race winner Approach Discreet. On Aug. 26, Approach Discreet returned to win a handicap at Sandown.