There’s no reason to speculate. Bitcoin Baby is an Australian filly with ample ability.
A debut winner against Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in May, Bitcoin Baby has not raced since a fifth-place finish in a well-regarded six-furlong handicap in June.
Bitcoin Baby’s layoff ends in another six-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Gosford Park on Tuesday, her first start outside of her age group.
Tudor Prince was a game second at 20-1 in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Queanbeyan Racecourse in Australia on Oct. 21 in his first start in 13 months.
A 6-year-old gelding, Tudor Prince closed from last of nine to miss by three-quarters of a length in a fine effort for a comeback.
A little more than two weeks later, Tudor Prince on Monday will start against a slightly easier field in a handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Queanbeyan Racecourse.
Paul Lally:
R1 11-9-5-4
R2 8-14-2-6
R3 3-1-7-10
R4 2-8-7-1
R5 2-9-7-3
R6 2-7-4-5
R7 3-7-4-1
R8 1-6-9-10
R9 1-2-10-7
R10 1-13-11-3
Best Bet R6 N2 Trillion Win
Longshot R2 N8 Dr Winning
Play R2 QQp 2 -8-14
Mark McNamara:
R1 – 11.4.7.9
R2- 9.2.14.4
R3 – 14.1.7.8
R4 – 8.2.1.3
R5 – 8.7.2.1
R6 – 2.4.7.5
R7 – 7.3.4.1
R8 – 1.9.2.6
R9 – 1.3.2.7
R10 – 1.3.5.4
The last two Hong Kong racing seasons, Glorious Dragon started his campaign with a chilly performance but came out breathing fire second time out. If the pattern holds, he should race competitively Sunday at Sha Tin in the Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies Purse Handicap.
The Ararat Cup in Australia on Sunday may be a showdown between recent cup race winners Orleans Rock and Seewhatyouthink.
A 6-year-old gelding, Orleans Rock won for the first time in 10 starts, since April 2020, in the Horsham Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Horsham Racecourse on Oct. 17. Sent off as the 11-10 favorite, Orleans Rock closed from seventh in a field of eight to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
During the losing streak, Orleans Rock often raced in tougher company at leading venues in Melbourne. The Ararat Cup is not that sort of race.
Before they teamed to win Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant, top Australian jockey James McDonald and leading trainer Chris Waller won the $11.05 million Everest Stakes for sprinters with Nature Strip last month at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
Verry Ellegant recorded a 15-1 upset. There will be no hefty price at all when Nature Strip starts in Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic at six furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
In the last four months, the 7-year-old Australian gelding Mister Smartee is one of just two starters for trainer Tas Morton. Mister Smartee has represented the stable well, winning his second start in the last year in the Krambach Cup at Taree Racecourse on Oct. 15.
Mister Smartee won the Kempsey Cup at 7 3/4 furlongs at tiny Kempsey Racecourse last November and is back in the same race this Friday.
Verry Elleegant’s 10th Group 1 win made Australia’s Horse of the Year even more of a household name.
Tuesday at Flemington Racecourse, Verry Elleegant won the $5.82 million Melbourne Cup, the nation’s most famous race, with a commanding four-length victory over Incentivise, the 3-2 favorite who had won his last nine starts.
Verry Elleegant, ridden by James McDonald, raced in the middle of the 23-horse field before moving closer to the front with a half-mile remaining. McDonald urged Verry Elleegant to the front with more than a furlong remaining and got a quick response.
Less than a month ago, Willowy was a maiden in Australia.
Thursday, she starts as the second choice in her Group 1 debut in the $751,700 Kennedy Oaks at 1 9/16 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
Owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by James Cummings, Willowy won a maiden race at a mile at Newcastle on Oct. 12 in her fourth start, stalking the pace before pulling away by more than 4 3/4lengths.
