The only blemish in the four-race career of the Australian 3-year-old filly Rupertaar is a last-place finish in a handicap in July in her second start.

The loss was followed by a five-month layoff and two wins in December, leading to a start in a five-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney on Wednesday.

Trained by Bjorn Baker, Rupertaar has won 3 of 4 starts at distances ranging from 4 1/2 to five furlongs. The filly is quick enough to lead and may need to utilize that speed with an inside draw in a field of nine at Warwick Farm.

HAPPY VALLEY SELECTIONS
(Wednesday, January 12, 2022)

The Australian 4-year-old filly Lady Kermadec will start at 1 1/4 miles for the first time in a handicap at Albury Racecourse on Tuesday. The race will be a test of stamina on a course she obviously adores.

Lady Kermadec won consecutive starts at Albury in late October and early November – a maiden race at 7 1/2 furlongs and a handicap at a mile. Since then, Lady Kermadec has finished second in a handicap at about a mile at Wodonga, and a well-beaten sixth in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles against a tougher field at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Dec. 15.

A course record contributed to a loss by Members Only in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse in Australia on Dec. 18.

Members Only finished third, beaten a little more than 6 1/4 lengths, by the odds-on favorite Wardaddy, who was timed in 1:12.93.

Wardaddy is currently being given a rest. Members Only continues his season in a handicap at 6 3/4 furlongs at Newcastle on Monday.

Mr Cancun could easily be on a three-race winning streak in Australia in the last two months.

A 5-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, Mr Cancun won a handicap at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Nov. 17 and was beaten a nose and a head in two starts in December.

The consistent record makes Mr Cancun the expected favorite in Sunday’s Koroit Cup at 1 1/16 miles at Warrnambool Racecourse west of Melbourne.

In four starts since late October, Starelle has finished second or third in stakes at tracks in Melbourne, Australia, always improving her position in the stretch.

Starelle has not won a stakes since March, and has been shipped across Australia, to Gold Coast Racecourse near Brisbane, for her next assignment in Saturday’s $179,250 Wave Stakes for 3- and 4-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

SHA TIN SELECTIONS
(Sunday, January 09, 2022)

Turk Warrior is undefeated in all eight of his career starts on the Australian island of Tasmania, which is why he was 3-5 in early betting for Friday’s $90,775 Tasmanian Guineas at Hobart Racecourse.

Since his career debut in November 2020, Turk Warrior has won at distances ranging from five to seven furlongs, making the one-mile Tasmanian Guineas a slight change for a gelding that tends to run near the front.

A handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Morphettville Racecourse in Australia last month may have been a touch too far for the 4-year-old I Am News.

A start in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Geelong Racecourse near Melbourne on Thursday seems like a better fit for the gelding, who has won 2 of 7 starts, with both wins coming in his last five starts.

I Am News is part of a field of nine at Geelong, which has an eight-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 6:30 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Paul Lally:

R1 1-4-8-7
R2 5-6-2-4
R3 1-2-5-6
R4 6-4-5-3
R5 2-3-1-11
R6 3-6-4-2
R7 5-3-8-7
R8 3-4-2-8
R9 5-3-2-8

Best Bet R8 N3 The Runner
Longshot R5 N2 Viva Hunter
Play R8 QQP 2-3-4

Tom Wood:

R1: 8-1-4-11
R2: 4-2-5-6
R3: 1-2-5-3
R4: 6-2-4-5
R5: 3-11-2-1
R6: 4-3-6-1
R7: 5-9-3-2
R8: 4-3-6-10
R9: 3-2-1-12

BEST: R4 N6 ZEBROWSKI (WIN)
VALUE: R2 N4 REGENCY STAR (EW)
PLAY: R1 QQP 1,4,8