Stretch-out should benefit Merlin's Magic in Eagle Farm feature

Merlin’s Magic was beaten a little more than a half-length in a handicap at a mile at Gold Coast Racecourse in Australia on Feb. 6, the 5-year-old mare’s sixth consecutive loss since June.

The performance was better than what it seems. Merlin’s Magic was last behind what appeared to be a moderate pace and ran well through the stretch to be closest at the finish.

Thursday, Merlin’s Magic will have her fifth start since a return from a five-month break in mid-December in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane. The added distance should be a benefit for Merlin’s Magic, who has won 3 of 17 starts.

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Trained by Les Kelly, who is based at Gold Coast, Merlin’s Magic has won at distances ranging from 6 3/4 furlongs to about 1 1/16 miles. She tends to run from off the pace and will be toward the back of a field of eight at Eagle Farm through the first half of the race.

Badge of Gameness, a winner of 2 of 46 starts, is likely to set the pace, but is rated as a longshot.

Merlin’s Magic is just below the top tier of contenders, a 5-1 chance in early betting on Tuesday compared to Mangione and Stuck With You, who were the 5-2 joint favorites.

Mangione, trained by Chris Waller, was third at 11-1 in a handicap at a mile at Doomben Racecourse on Feb. 13, but did win a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Eagle Farm last June. Mangione is winless in 10 subsequent starts.

Stuck With You is a 5-year-old gelding that seems to be improving, having two of his last four starts. A winner of 3 of 9 starts in his career, Stuck With You won a handicap at a mile at Grafton Racecourse on Feb. 2, closing from fifth in a field of six. Stuck With You will start at 1 1/8 miles for the first time on Thursday.

Eagle Farm has an eight-race program that begins at 10:45 p.m. Eastern or 7:45 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com