In 2018, Home Ground was a minor stakes winner in Australia and ran in three Group 1 races before he was exported to Hong Kong.
Home Ground never raced in Hong Kong and was eventually sent back to Australia and former trainer John Sargent. Home Ground’s comeback began with a fourth-place finish on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick at 7 3/4 furlongs on July 1 and a fifth there in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles on July 18.
Dubai Tycoon, a 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding, needed two starts in June following a four-month layoff to reach the winner’s circle for the first time this year.
Dubai Tycoon closed from fourth to win a seven-furlong handicap by about 1 3/4 lengths at Moree Racecourse on July 6, his fourth victory in 15 starts. Dubai Tycoon may have a similar trip in Monday’s Forbes Cup at Forbes Racecourse in Australia.
Tallyho Twinkletoe completed a rare double in Australia last August, winning the Grand National Hurdle and Grand National Chase in consecutive starts. He was the first horse to sweep the two races since Mosstrooper in 1930.
Tallyho Twinkletoe, a 10-year-old gelding, may have a chance to repeat that historic achievement this year. Sunday, Tallyho Twinkletoe will start favored in the $178,500 Grand National Hurdle on the Lakeside course at Ladbrokes Park in Melbourne.
Polly Grey finished fifth in her first try at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on July 18, but the loss was probably not a true indication of her ability at the distance.
Polly Grey was checked in traffic behind a slow pace in the first half of the race and was only beaten 1 3/4 lengths.
Shiranda will complete a busy July when the gelding starts favored in Friday’s Mackay Cup at Mackay Racecourse in northeast Australia.
Shiranda, a winner of 8 of 41 starts, has already raced three times this month – finishing third in one-mile handicaps at Rockhampton on July 7 and July 17 and winning a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Mackay as the 6-5 favorite on July 21.
Youngblood went from being a multi-race maiden to a multiple winner when he was tried in marathon races for the first time last month in Australia.
Winless in his first six starts at distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, Youngblood has won two of his last three starts in races at 1 3/8 miles, displaying the ability to gallop along near the front and maintain that advantage.
Since the beginning of his 2018 campaign, Stradivarius has raced 12 times in races at 1 3/4 miles and beyond, his domain as king of the European stayers. He has won 11 of those races, the lone defeat in the sequence coming last fall at Ascot in the British Champions Long Distance Cup, where the Aidan O’Brien-trained 4-year-old Kew Gardens beat him a nose.
The Australian-bred 3-year-olds Escaped and Front Money finished first and second in a five-furlong handicap at Hawkesbury Racecourse on July 10, the first start following layoffs for both.
They seem to be on the same career plan. Wednesday, Escaped and Front Money meet again in a six-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse. This a new distance for both Escaped, a gelding who has won 2 of 4 starts, and Front Money, a filly who will have her fourth start on Wednesday.
