The Kentucky-bred gelding Mutamanni is off to a fine start to his career in Australia, winning two of his first four appearances since late May.

A close fourth in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney July 8, Mutamanni will start favored in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Randwick on Friday evening, seeking his first win at the prestigious venue.

A new distance may end a six-race losing streak in Australia for Yirrkala, who will start at seven furlongs in a handicap at Tamworth Racecourse on Thursday evening.

Yirrkala has raced primarily at five furlongs in her seven-race career, winning her debut at that distance last November. In her last two starts, Yirrkala has been second in six-furlong races, losing by 1 1/4 lengths at Scone June 30, and by slightly less than a half-length at Tamworth July 7.

C’mon Mate had a rude introduction to racing against winners when he finished fourth in a six-furlong handicap at Wyong Racecourse in Australia on July 15.

C’mon Mate broke slowly and raced in tight quarters in the stretch before finishing slightly less than three lengths behind the winner.

The loss should serve as a learning experience for C’mon Mate’s seven-furlong debut in a first-condition handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Wednesday evening, his seventh career start.

Southern Chilli, a game second in a sprint at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia July 12, will start favored to win for the third time in his eighth start in a handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park in Sydney Tuesday evening.

In three career starts since early June in Australia, Maryland Bridge has never been worse than second. She lost her debut by less than a half-length, beat maidens in her second start, and was second by a half-length in her first start against winners on July 10.

The consistent series of races suggests Maryland Bridge can show further improvement when she starts for the first time at seven furlongs in a handicap at Bathurst Racecourse on Monday evening.

A hefty weight assignment and an oddly-run race led to a third-place finish for the veteran Australian gelding Classy Joe in a marathon handicap at Narrandera Racecourse on July 16.

A week later, Classy Joe has a more favorable assignment in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Wagga Wagga Racecourse on Sunday evening.

The use of apprentice jockeys is a significant reason why Baglioni has finished first and second in two recent starts leading to the Sawtell Cup at Coffs Harbour Racecourse in Australia Saturday evening.

Baglioni won a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Coffs Harbour June 16 when ridden by apprentice Courtney Bellamy, the daughter of trainer Brett Bellamy. Courtney Bellamy carried 131 pounds, 4.5 pounds less than the original assignment.

Aidan O’Brien sent out his first Irish Oaks winner in 2006 and will be widely expected to saddle his seventh on Saturday at The Curragh. O’Brien trains half the eight horses entered in the 1 1/2-mile fixture including Savethelastdance, heavily favored in antepost wagering with English bookmakers.  

The role of favorite in the $108,400 Winter Challenge Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Friday evening depends on whether the talented filly Semana draws into the big field from the also-eligible list.

The Winter Challenge Stakes, run at 7 1/2 furlongs, will have a maximum field of 14. Semana is the first entrant on the also-eligible list and was the 5-2 favorite in early betting on Thursday over Resonator and Barbie’s Fox, who were both 7-2.

The odds may change significantly after scratches.