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Bendigo will come alive this Wednesday as the Victorian country town will play host to its feature race meeting. The Group 3 Bendigo Cup will headline the nine race card and the 2400m staying event will present a couple of contenders with their last shot of securing a start in next week’s Melbourne Cup.
Current favourite Sea King, is one of those, as the UK visitor sits at number 33 in order of entry for the race that stops a nation and a top three spot in the $500k feature could see him slide into the field.
The track is currently rated a good 4 and the rail will be in the true position.
We've had a close look at all ten events on the card and our thoughts can be found below.
RACE 1 - 12:40PM: CATANACHS JEWELLERS 3YO MAIDEN PLATE SW (1000 METRES)
Miss Archibald has been placed in three of her five starts and boasts solid form around her.
A narrow runner up on debut, the daughter of Starspangledbanner then stepped out in an OPEN 2YO Handicap at Caulfield where she finished third behind the very smart Rich Dottie.
Sent to the paddock after a couple of fair runs in rich races, she returned in good order with a solid effort to finish second over 1100m at Moe.
The slight drop back in trip will suit, the blinkers go on for the first time and she's set to receive all the favours from the inside draw under Ethan Brown.
1 unit – MISS ARCHIBALD
RACE 2 - 1:15PM: BRB ELECTRICAL BM64 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Fragile Love resumes in the second here.
The Matthew Ellerton trained mare was sent to the paddock on a high after a dominant win on the Hillside, where after struggling to finish off her races when stepping out over the longer trips, she relished the drop back to 1000m.
Boasting a terrific first up record, she looks ideally placed here and should find this easier than what she's previously been contesting.
Held together in two recent jump outs, she looks ready to go and barrier four will see her afforded every chance under Damian Lane.
1 unit – FRAGILE LOVE
RACE 3 - 1:50PM: BIG ALS WATER BM64 HANDICAP (2400 METRES)
Proprietary has been racing well and presents hard fit.
He finished off nicely over 2000m on the Hillside two runs back and out to 2520m last time, he was strong through the line in restricted room, holding third and only going down by three quarters of a length.
He looks nicely placed here at 2400m and Blake Shinn will do the steering for Greg Eurell.
1 unit – PROPRIETARY
RACE 4 - 2:25PM: NO FUSS EVENT HIRE 3YO BM64 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
Wainman has just had the two race starts and looks very progressive.
Well beaten on debut at Geelong, the Rubick gelding showed great improvement last start to record an all-the-way win over 1200m at Mornington.
With the added fitness, the slight rise in trip looks ideal and from the low draw I think he can again make every post a winner.
Jordan Childs has partnered him to both outings and stays in the saddle for team Hawkes.
1 unit – WAINMAN
RACE 5 - 3:00PM: 3:00pm TURNERS CROSSING BM70 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
Floozie makes her return to the races.
Only lightly raced, having had the eight starts, the daughter of Zoustar has performed very well against quality opposition and looks to have plenty of upside.
Beaten .6 of a length in the Listed Nitschke Stakes last campaign, she then produced a terrific effort to finish second at Caulfield behind the highly talented, Miss Aria.
After pulling up with cardiac arrythmia at her following outing she was sent for a well earned break and looks to have returned in top order with two very pleasing jump out performances.
1 unit – FLOOZIE
RACE 6 - 3:35PM: FILEKL BM70 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Sure returned to the races with a very encouraging effort over this course and distance earlier this month and he strips fitter for it.
The son of So You Think kicked off his career in style recording back to back wins at his first two outings before heading to the paddock.
He was far too good on debut over the mile at Sale, powering away to post a 4.75 length margin on the line before heading to Caulfield where he again, proved superior, winning comfortably in what has proven to be a strong form race.
With race fitness on his side and the advantage of the inside draw, I think he'll be too good for them.
2 units – SURE
RACE 7 - 4:10PM: APIAM BENDIGO CUP GROUP 3 (2400 METRES)
Le Don De Vie has just the two starts this campaign and looks ready to do something at his third run back.
The former UK galloper was doing his best work late when resuming over 2000m in the Naturalism and just held his ground through the line last time in the Herbert Power Stakes.
He strips fitter and with two wins and two placings from six third up appearances, he's sure to improve.
Mark Zahra partnered him last start, he stays in the saddle for Ciaron Maher and if he can find cover off the wide gate, I think he'll be right in this.
1 unit E/W – LE DON DE VIE
RACE 8 - 4:45PM: BENDIGO LOCKSMITHS BM78 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Serasana resumes.
A winner of last year's Sandown Guineas, the daughter of Snitzel has already proven herself a class galloper and looks set for a bright future.
Whilst she has performed well over the longer journeys, winning well over 1000m on debut and was placed when kicking off over that same trip in her second campaign, so the 1100m here doesn't look out of her reach.
She's worked home strongly in two recent jump outs and John Allen, who knows her very well, will do the steering for the Griffiths / de Kock team.
1 unit – SERASANA
RACE 9 - 5:20PM: BM78 HANDICAP MCC SERIES HEAT 8 (1400 METRES)
Yellow Sam was doing her best work late when resuming in the Northwood Plume Stakes and she'll find this easier.
Over the 1200m around Caulfield she settled back near the tail and just had too much too much ground to make up.
The Lindsey Smith trained mare looks well suited here with the rise in trip and does hold a strong second up record.
She's ultra consistent and with a Group 3 win already to her name, she's proven herself a class mare.
Gate seven should see her settle within striking distance under Luke Cartwright, who will take 2kgs off.
1 unit – YELLOW SAM
