A sharp drop in class may lead to a first win in Australia for the Irish-bred gelding Rogue Bear on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Tuesday evening.

Rogue Bear, a winner of 3 of 12 starts, has finished fifth and fourth in two handicaps at seven furlongs and 7 1/2 furlongs since early April, his first starts in Australia since he was sent to that country from Britain last year.

Champagne Color, sixth and third in his first two starts in graded stakes, recorded an upset win with a late rally in Sunday’s Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup for 3-year-old colts and fillies at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan.

Champagne Color ($71.60) won for the third time in his fifth start, and first appearance in a Grade 1, in the $1.87 million NHK Mile Cup.

Ridden by Hiroyuki Uchida for trainer Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Champagne Color finished a head in front of 18-1 Umbrail.

Poor post positions and wide trips have cost the Australian filly Doola Teela in recent starts.

As far as the draw goes, Doola Teela appears better positioned when she starts from post 3 in a field of nine in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Goulburn Racecourse in Australia on Monday evening.

Frankie Dettori fell off Chaldean during a rough start to the Greenham Stakes on April 22. Saturday, Dettori came out the saddle with his famed flying dismount after Chaldean won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket by 1 3/4 lengths over 125-1 shot Hi Royal.

By late January, Narnia showed signs of needing a rest in Australia.

The gelding won for the first time in his career in his fourth race last September, but was third, fourth, and 11th in his next three starts.

Narnia’s career resumes Sunday evening after a rest of more than three months in a modest handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Taree Racecourse, three hours north of Sydney.

Narnia, trained by Paul Shailer, will start for the second time at Taree. In January, Narnia was 11th of 14 in a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Taree.

Tahirya shined in Ireland last September, Meditate starred at the Breeders’ Cup in America last November, and Mammas Girl opened eyes last month in England. Three fillies, three countries, and the top three early-betting choices in the English 1000 Guineas on Sunday at Newmarket Racecourse. 

A seven-furlong race is the perfect fit for the Australian gelding Osman, who starts in the minor Gooree Park Cup at that distance at Mudgee Racecourse on Saturday evening.

Osman has won at six furlongs and a mile in his 13-race career, but three of his wins have been at seven furlongs, including his last two starts.

Osman won a handicap at Scone at seven furlongs on April 17 and took a successful jump in class to win at the same distance at Bathurst on April 25.

Dolce More won two major stakes last fall to clinch the title of champion Japanese 2-year-old colt of 2022. His 3-year-old season is not off to a good start.

Dolce More was beaten for the first time when seventh in the Grade 2 New Zealand Trophy at a mile at Nakayama Racecourse on April 8. The loss has dented Dolce More’s reputation in advance of Sunday’s $1.87 million NHK Mile Cup for colts and fillies at Tokyo Racecourse.

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Zaaki will be an odds-on favorite to win the Group 3 Hollindale Stakes at Sunshine Coast Racecourse in Australia for the third consecutive year on Friday evening.

The only significant differences from this year’s race compared to his wins in 2021 and 2022 are the venue and the timing of the Hollindale in relation to Zaaki’s season.

The race is normally held at Gold Coast Racecourse, but that track is undergoing a renovation.

Zaaki was in the midst of extensive campaigns when he won the Hollindale the last two years.