Rain in the lead-up to the Bendigo Golden Mile has boosted Tom Dabernig’s hopes of Velox becoming the second Lindsay Park import in four years to win the Listed race.
After 16mm of rain in the past 24 hours, Bendigo was rated in the soft range ahead of Saturday’s meeting.
Trainer David Hayes produced import Jet Away to win the 2013 Golden Mile at his first Australian start.
Velox is starting his third preparation in Australia and is on the third line of betting at $5.50.
“He seems to be going really well,” Dabernig said.
“Now there’s a bit of rain about – I just saw they are rating the track a soft six at the moment – that should be ideal.
“I think he’s a strong each-way chance.”
Velox has raced six times in Australia with his five-start 2015 spring campaign including a win over 1600m at Pakenham and a Group Three placing in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley.
Dabernig believes the gelding is in for a good preparation.
“He’s a nice sound horse and he’s got some really nice attributes,” he said.
“He was a reasonably expensive purchase for the owners so hopefully he can start to pick up a few nice races, which I think he will.”
The Group Three JRA Trophy at Randwick next month, which was won by Spillway for the stable two years ago, could be an option.
“But we’ll just take one race at a time and see where we get with him. We won’t be aiming too high,” Dabernig said.
