Summary of best bets:
Best bet: Race 4 No.14 Oak Beach
Value: Race 7 No.9 Choir Point
Two-bet play: Race 9 No.2 Von Hauke / No.5 Zahrann
Turf Talk:
- Bendigo is a beautifully laid out country track.
- This day has traditionally been a big advantage to be on speed, but that was when the meeting was run at the back end of March.
- The track underwent a significant renovation heading into this year and, at the one meeting back, it raced well.
- Going in thinking it will be no disadvantage to be on speed, but a relatively fair deck.
- Showers are forecast late in the day, so keep an eye on that.
Race by race overview
Race 1
They should hike along here. (11) Prince Pinot will lead. (6) Houdini should be on speed with (3) Sea Strike and (9) So Suave. They may also press forward with (9) Any Luck from a wider draw.
You could throw a blanket over these.
(12) So Suave was narrowly beaten by (6) Houdini in a higher-rating race at Sandown last time out, where they cleared out from their rivals. Despite being beaten, So Suave was strong through the line and with a little weight swing she is a good hope of turning the tables and, in turn, winning this race. There was plenty of merit in her previous win at Cranbourne where she spaced the field.
The toppy, (1) My Brothers Keeper, is nothing if not consistent. He gets back and charges home, rarely winning, which is not a great racing style. Going back two starts, he finished alongside (4) Jareth, who is $6 here, and he was only getting stronger at the end of 2000m there. He also gets a 6.5kg weight swing in his favour. Now he has dropped right back in grade and with a strong tempo up front, he can certainly run into the money.
(10) Almairac has the talent to win a race like this on his day, that day just does not come often. He had a nice tickover jump-out between runs and maps well.
Selections:
(1) My Brothers Keeper
(12) So Suave
(6) Houdini
(10) Almairac
Suggested bet: Even race, so gone value hunting. Something small 1×3 My Brothers Keeper. Maybe a small trifecta: 1,6,12 / 1,4,6,10,12 / 1,4,6,10,12
Race 2
Liked (2) The Speed Machine at Mornington where he did a good job in winning. This does not look any tougher, but the extra 100m is a challenge for him. That said, he will be in it a long way.
Liked the jump-outs of (8) Shamakita, who debuts for Moody and Coleman. Looks to have plenty of size to him, which is housing a decent engine. Still does plenty wrong and is drawn sticky, despite the one bend, but it would not surprise to see him win.
(10) Divine Dot has plenty of speed. Both jump-outs this time in have been good. Despite winning at 1200m on debut at Mornington, still think she is a query at 1100m as that was a sedately run 1200m. But she is right in the game.
(12) Sashiko is another who has jumped out nicely for this debut. Thought she was the pick of the Hayes duo, but could be wrong.
Generally keen to bet into 2YO races, but not so much this one.
Selections:
(2) The Speed Machine
(8) Shamakita
(10) Divine Dot
(12) Sashiko
Suggested bet: Happy to watch. Pattern will be key.
Race 3
They will go like the clappers here. (2) Lim’s Bighorn, (6) Alero, (9) Damas, (11) Oriental Smoke, (13) Rosa Aotearoa and (14) The Grumpy Bear all press forward.
(5) Prancing Spirit does not win out of turn, but his recent wins have all come when sitting deep in his own space, so I do not mind the wide draw. He is capable of absorbing fast tempos, which he should get here, and that is something I am not convinced will suit all his rivals. Does not win out of turn, but in this grade should prove most competitive.
I have been a big fan of (13) Rosa Aotearoa since before his debut and Reece Goodwin has gotten the best out of him. He will push forward, make his own luck on speed and be in this a long way. A very likeable racing style.
A few of these may be a query at the end of 1300m, but not so (6) Alero, who is racing well.
(12) Officiate has been gelded since last at the sports and jumped out nicely leading in. He is still on the up and will get a lovely run from gate four.
Blinkers came off and the visor went on (2) Lim’s Bighorn last start and he went like a rocket at Cranbourne. He is creeping up to 62kg but on a 57kg minimum, I do not think it is a massive deal.
(4) One Long Day has been given two really solid trials in the blinkers, which he will sport on Saturday. Not sure how well he is going, but his best is up to a race like this.
Selections:
(5) Prancing Spirit
(13) Rosa Aotearoa
(12) Officiate
(6) Alero
Suggested bet: Tough. Small 1×3 Prancing Spirit if compelled to bet. Could easily have missed the winner in the numbers.
Race 4
(14) Oak Beach has not run a bad race in her last couple of campaigns and she ticks a lot of boxes here. Great claim for Dakotah Keane gets her in with 52.5kg coming off a terrific run behind the in-form Louis Barthas first up at Sandown. Mile record is terrific and she maps nicely.
Jordan Childs is a good booking for (8) Otago, who can push forward and make his own luck. He has been to Bendigo once for a dominant maiden win early in his career and I thought he ran OK first up at Sandown.
(13) Heavenly Eagle goes well here at Bendigo and should get a soft run. He is off a five-week break into this, but some of his best runs have come fresh or off similar gaps between runs.
Thought (1) Jackkknife was OK at Mornington last time out when racing in restricted room over the concluding stages.
Selections:
(14) Oak Beach
(8) Otago
(13) Heavenly Eagle
(1) Jackkknife
Suggested bet: Think Oak Beach is the best on the card. Ideally suited.
Race 5
Surprised by the early money for (1) Oh Too Good. Thought her trials leading into this campaign were plain and she has been poor in two runs. She has trialled with the blinkers on in between runs and went terribly up on speed. The caveat is she is 4/4 third up and that trial suggested to me that she is going to go forward on Saturday, but in those four previous campaigns she was going a lot better.
(2) Merrigold is just so honest. On the quick back-up from a monster run at Flemington last week when copping a short back and sides at the top of the straight before hammering the line. Versatile mare who only needs to hold her form to justify favouritism.
(6) Lady Jones won this race in 2024 and ran well in the Golden Mile last year. Sat deep with a big weight first up at Flemington in what looked nothing more than a pipe-opener. Drawn to control the race.
(3) Miss Playlounge has trialled nicely between runs. She has a good turn of foot on her day.
(9) Sister Shay should ensure a genuine tempo and should be in it a long way.
Selections:
(2) Merrigold
(6) Lady Jones
(9) Sister Shay
(7) Roll On High
Suggested bet: Can back Merrigold, smaller Lady Jones.
Race 6
Not a lot of speed for a 1300m race. (14) Xarpo looks the default leader. Do not think (10) Duchess Zou will be far away.
(10) Duchess Zou was costly for punters at Mornington last time out, but this again looks an ideal race for her. Maps perfectly. Gets a handy claim for Logan Bates, who has ridden her before. Not rushing out to dive into the $3.20, but think she is the horse to beat.
(12) Quiseen draws for a soft run with the light weight and she is a mare that can sprint quickly, which could come in handy. She has won drawing low before and loved her win with the crossover going on at Sandown last start.
(11) King Tut is flying and he has a nice change-up speed. Probably concedes key rivals a start here but will be strong late.
If you can forgive (14) Xarpo her last-start failure where she was terrible, she is in the game. Maps to get complete control.
Selections:
(10) Duchess Zou
(12) Quiseen
(11) King Tut
(14) Xarpo
Suggested bet: 10,11,12 quinella, if anything. Tough race.
Race 7
Cracking race. A stack of speed.
The toppy, (1) Navy Pilot, went around $8.50 in a Caulfield Guineas having kicked off the campaign with a narrow second to Legacy Bound down the straight over 1100m. He was strong late in a recent Cranbourne trial.
(9) Choir Point is untapped, like so many of these. Dominant display first up at Cranbourne when winning with plenty in hand. Had little luck in the $1 million Thoroughbred Club Stakes at the end of last campaign when on the heels of Inkaruna and My Gladiola. She has come back in excellent order and has plenty of upside.
(15) Yes Yoshi ran very fast time winning his maiden at Sale last campaign, albeit on a day they ran slick times all day. His only other start was a soft win at Caulfield Heath, beating Savirti, who has since gone on to better things, although over longer. Trials leading into his return have been solid and the stable has hit a purple patch. Deserves to be right at the top of betting, but looks well enough found.
(12) Street Artist had a bit against him from midfield first up. Prefer him ridden more aggressively. In the mix.
Selections:
(9) Choir Point
(15) Yes Yoshi
(12) Street Artist
(1) Navy Pilot
Suggested bet: 1×3 each-way Choir Point.
Race 8
Another big field. (3) Bacash, (5) Maldini, (7) Gold Coast Belle and (9) Jett Smash set what should be a pretty good tempo.
Danny O’Brien has a strong two-pronged attack with (7) Gold Coast Belle and (9) Jett Smash.
(7) Gold Coast Belle is totally airborne. She puts herself up on speed with little effort and was so strong at the end of 1400m last start. Jordy Childs is similarly flying at the moment and he is as good a front-running jockey as we have in Victoria. Terrestar, who she beat comfortably last start, has since been narrowly beaten in the Group 2 Queen Of The South.
(9) Jett Smash got a very soft lead when able to comfortably account for (8) Wise Inlaw at Sandown last time out. Tempo certainly flattered the winner there, with Wise Inlaw getting home in the best last 400m split of the meeting.
(6) Cherish Me looks a terrific roughie at $31. She showed plenty of talent as a 2YO but has not lived up to the early hype. Her run at Caulfield first up behind Extragalactic was a bit of a hidden gem when home in the third-best last 400m split of the meeting. She gets the blinkers back on, which she has trialled well in between runs, and draws a perfect marble. Right in the game.
(15) The Volta was good fresh in a high-rating race at Mornington. Has only run one bad race in her career and she will be in the finish.
Selections:
(7) Gold Coast Belle
(6) Cherish Me
(15) The Volta
(8) Wise Inlaw
Suggested bet: Backing Gold Coast Belle and Cherish Me.
Race 9
Quality edition of the Golden Mile.
Many of these come through the Victoria Handicap at Caulfield, won by (3) Hughes in track-record time. He is flying, Hughes, but he did get a dream run through the field to win there at Caulfield and now goes up 5kg in weight. The bar is raised yet again.
Loved the run of (2) Von Hauke in that Victoria Handicap. He got way too far back but was strong through the line first up. He will improve with that run under his belt and has jumped out brilliantly since. Narrowly beaten at a mile second up last campaign before posting a big rating to win the Crystal Mile third up. Drawn perfectly.
(5) Zahrann has his first start in Australia. He tackled the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at his most recent start. He was no match for the big boys there but was a dominant winner of the Royal Whip at The Curragh the start prior, with short-priced favourite Los Angeles back in fourth, albeit Los Angeles probably did not find his best last season. He should not lack for fitness having had four jump-outs leading in, the latest over 1500m. Going to be better over further, but on class alone he is right in the mix.
If the forecast rain has come by this stage and the track has deteriorated, consider (9) El Rocko, who is a duck.
(14) Shockletz has trialled nicely and on paper has a good fresh record. Flattered when winning first up last campaign on a day the wind wreaked havoc, but will be strong late if they overdo it up front.
(6) Al Duca is flying. Has a very likeable racing style, pushing forward, making his own luck and able to sustain a strong gallop. Gets back onto dry ground after having the sting out at his last two and is creeping up in weight, but cannot dismiss. $4.80 does seem skinny, however.
Selections:
(2) Von Hauke
(5) Zahrann
(3) Hughes
(14) Shockletz
Suggested bet: Backing Von Hauke and Zahrann, the former going for a better result.
Race 10
(10) Balastier is a flying machine. Good first up winning on speed over 1000m at Sandown. Has trialled like a rocket between runs, which is typical for him. Even though he has a good 1100m record, think he might be a touch exposed the last 50m against this lot.
(12) You’re Two Vain was huge first up in that race won by Balastier, running the best last 600m and 400m of the meeting and probably should have won. Drops in weight, the step to 1100m looks ideal and he normally jumps much better than he did last time out.
(6) Hearcomesthestar flies fresh and she jumped out typically well ahead of this. By race ten on the card the pattern will be well exposed. If they can make ground, then she is a big winning hope.
Think (14) Greatham Boy is a great roughie. Total forgive run last time out where he got keen and faded late. Has trialled very well between runs and gets a beautiful trailing run from the low draw. Should not be 50/1.
Selections:
(12) You’re Two Vain
(6) Hearcomesthestar
(14) Greatham Boy
(10) Balastier
Suggested bet: Spending $50 on the race, having $35 You’re Two Vain, $10 Hearcomesthestar and $5 Greatham Boy.
