This Wednesday sees the Bendigo Jockey Club host it’s feature race meeting of the season, with the main race being the $150 000 Listed Jayco Bendigo Cup (2200m). View the days preview and race by race tips and selections.
The main race has a Melbourne Cup feel about it because two horses, Valdemoro and My Bentley, need to win to have any chance of forcing their way into the final 24 for the race that stops a nation.
With a strong support card around the feature race for Wednesday, a big day of country Victorian racing is anticipated.
Race One: Zingaia has shown plenty of ability in her two trial performances, but in her four career starts she has failed to fire. The daughter of Danzero showed good natural pace to lead first up at Seymour before weakening to finish fourth behind Turenne. This is the weakest race she will have contested in her career and if she wants to go through her grades, she’d want to be winning this race otherwise put her in your redbook to never back again. For exotics put in Genarka Star, Barterer and Bendigo Belle.
Race Two: With much better form than her rivals, it’s hard seeing Queen For Ninedays getting beat here. Fought on very strongly behind Queen’s Fashion last start and that filly came out and ran well behind Zubbaya at Moonee Valley on the weekend. Dunn should have this three-year-old in the perfect spot from barrier five and with normal luck in running, she should do a spank job on these. For exotics throw in Lucky Views, Dashing Stars and Paparazzi Princess.
Race Three: You always have to respect first starters from the Williams camp so I will put Excluded on top. The son of High Chaparral (sire of So You Think, Descerado, Shoot Out) hasn’t been seen in public but be sure he’ll be ready to rumble on debut. For exotics throw in Heathcliff, Toolbag and Wabashi River.
Race Four: The weakest race of the day so go with the one who has the form and that is Undercurrent. Won like a very good horse on debut back In September last year then ran into Gibraltar Moon and King Pulse at his next two starts. He is first up for 54 weeks but I have more confidence in him than in any other runner in this race. For exotics include Diamondcowboy, Prussian Power and Them’s The Rules.
Race Five: This race kicks off the Victorian Big 6 with a $10 118 jackpot. Very keen on Sipowicz here. Raced three-four wide with no cover in the dash for cash at Moonee Valley on Manikato Stakes night and stuck on well to finish fifth, one-and-a-half lengths from the winner. From barrier one, McCabe will put the gelding to sleep and this is the easiest race he has contested for a long time. For exotics put in Tully Dreamer, Little Gem and Esprit De Bullet.
Race Six: I’ll go with Tampiko. The former kiwi led all the way at his Aussie debut at Kilmore over 1207m when he was the subject of a big betting drift ($4.60/$7.50). He steps up to 1400m here and should be on the speed and prove hard to beat for the Nolen/Moody combination. For exotics throw in No Push Over, Rubellite and Sulmita.
Race Seven: Vocalic should have won last start at Cranbourne. If you backed the old boy, you would have been filthy with the way he got beat. He didn’t get one look of clear space. Expect Yendall to send him forward and if he repeats his last start effort, he’ll be right in the finish at good odds. For exotics include Veewap, Okay Oky and Blue Oscar.
Race Eight: Bendigo Cup here and I think the two horse hoping to get into the big two mile race at Flemington will fight it out but I favour My Bentley. Was given a lovely ride by Froggy in the Cranbourne Cup but found Starmon too strong. He goes into this race third up so he should be cherry ripe for this and from gate four, Newitt will have the gelding in the plum spot. Dangers are Valdemoro, Muir and Sivadio.
Race Nine: Indite looked in need of the run first up at Ballarat. This Team Williams five-year-old will strip much fitter for that run and strikes a winnable race here second up. He has won second up before and has won at Bendigo before. For exotics put in Vimy, Pheromone and Rhiannon’s Joy.
Race Ten: The barrier worries me with Dual Hemisphere, but I liked the way he attacked the line last start on the Geelong Synthetic behind Niblick, who won like a good horse at Sale last Sunday. He has been given a month freshen up for this race and he strikes a very weak race. Dangers are Nevzlin, Sea Coral and Sunset Cafe.
Written by Adam Page
