Bendigo gets the chance to showcase its best day of racing for the year with a deep card for Guineas & Golden Mile Day.
Rail is in the true position and the cracking weather today will ensure we remain on a good track.
Depending on how much the track staff have watered the surface, winners should be able to come from anywhere with tempo and race shape being the defining factor of horses winning or losing.
Race 1 - 12:15pm
Alan 'Simmo' Simpson Tribute (2400m)
Grand Promenade (2) is the go-to horse here. Lightly raced stayer on the rise.
He was up for the fight against Reflect The Stars over this distance last start after a ding dong battle in the straight where he got his big nose in front on the line.
That run should bring him right on for his second consecutive start over 2400m and he looks a great way to start the day.
Tough to pick outside of the favourite. Budd Fox (11) and No Commitment (7) bring okay form lines from Sandown mid-week meetings but not sure if they have the depth of form to challenge the favourite.
Sin to Win (1) can improve at long odds.
Race 2 - 12:50pm
RSN 94.5AM in Bendigo (1300m)
A handful of resumers in this race makes this one quite tricky.
Will stick with the up and running horses and Lucky Fish (9) looks like he’ll make his own luck in front with Brett Prebble taking the reins. Good each-way play.
Strung together two good runs in Adelaide and comes into this off a nice little tick-over trial at Benalla.
Turn the Tide (4) drops down in grade and should run well from barrier three.
Write Your Name (6) won well last start but that race looks a bit hollow despite him being hard in the market here.
Sikorsky (10) has a lot of talent but is coming into this after a long time away from the races.
Race 3 - 1:30pm
Underground Cabling Systems Handicap (1100m)
Tough not to get a headache over this race.
Coruscate (2) was hard in the market first-up when tailing out to finish second last at Randwick just over a month ago.
Had a Warwick Farm trial and looked sharp winning that. Drawn nicely in barrier six and gets the services of Brad Rawiller. At $8 looks over the odds despite the first-up failure.
Redcore (6) looks ready to fire after a 990 metre trip at Cranbourne. Won this race last year and can repeat the dose here at around the $8.5 quote.
Terbium (3) and Simply Optimistic (9) are hard to split as lightly raced types in this field.
Prezado (1) might be over the odds at $15. The blinkers going on for the first time and that might spark some improvement into him. Bonne Sensation (12) is a blowout hope as she attempts to go three in a row.
Race 4 - 2:10pm
Bendigo Gold Rush (1000m)
The two-year-olds that have already run come into this race with a few convictions.
Going to go with the un-raced Swats That (14). Had two nice jump outs at Flemington. She was runner-up in her first jump out behind the smart Ellerton & Zahra-trained filly Forever Free before going on to win her second jump out under a solid grip.
Drawn to blend in midfield and run over the top of them late. At $7 she looks a good play.
Masseuse (7) and River Night (6) come from the same race at Caulfield a fortnight ago. Masseuse can turn the tables on River Knight but they're both slightly under the odds here.
Lunar Fox (2) has won well at Ballarat and Flemington his last two and will be up around the speed making his own luck.
Cut it Out (8) and Madam Mischief (9) next best.
Race 5 - 2:50pm
URMG Security 3YO Handicap (2200m)
Adelaide Ace (1) did not get the race run on his terms in the Alister Clark at Moonee Valley last start. Lindsey Smith has decided to book up-and-coming apprentice Campbell Rawiller and the 3kg helps. He should be able put the favourite up on the pace and prove a tough to run down. But again, we're not getting luxurious odds at the $2.6 quote.
Skiddaw (3) looks set to peak here third-up with Damian Lane opting to stick with the Danny O'Brien-trained colt.
King Princess (14) looks a progressive staying type as well. She broke her maiden status easily over this distance last start and at $26 she can run very well at nice each-way odds.
Royal Crown (4) and Bellx (11) round out the selections.
Race 6 - 3:30pm
Catanach's Jewellers Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m)
Fabric (2) is racing really well this preparation. Not the ideal set up going from the mile back to 1400m, but she’ll be up on the pace from barrier six and prove hard to beat.
Will be interesting to see what the market does with Wheal Grace (18). The Paul Preusker stable is starting to hit some good form after two winners yesterday at Warrnambool. Was heavily backed in her first run back and looks over the odds at $21.
Clarice Cliffs (14) is becoming costly but she raced a lot better at Flemington last time sitting just behind the lead. If Jye McNeil can get a good position from barrier 1, she promises to be in the finish.
Vanuatu (13) brings in different form lines to this one as well. She’ll run well but is a shade under the odds at $7.
Twitchy Frank (1) just cannot get her head past the post first this preparation but she should be in the finish here. Having said that, nothing to get entertained about at the $7 quote.
Race 7 - 4:10pm
Bendigo Guineas (1400m)
Spend (3) looks very hard to beat here. Might get 60 kilos but drawn barrier three and will barely do any work in the race.
Goes from Group 1 level back to a listed race and he has to go on top.
Star Surprise (2) was good when running third last start at Moonee Valley behind a smart type last start. Seems over the odds at around the $10 quote.
Debt’n’ Deficit (16) will improve immensely from her resuming run at Sandown when she was nosed out at the finish. The rise in distance will definitely suit her and she should be ready to run up to her best at each-way odds.
Vegas Jewel (13) was unlucky not to win a couple of quality 3YO races in the spring and while she won't be fully wound up for this, has the class to be running on.
Campese (11) and Riddle Me That (7) next best in atricky affair.
Race 8 - 4:50pm
Golden Mile (1600m)
So Si Bon (4). He might only have three wins from 46 career starts but today he’s got the perfect platform to be able to get back onto the winners’ podium.
He was only beaten just over two lengths in the All-Star Mile last start and should get an economical run from barrier seven.
Admiral’s Joker was given an interesting ride last start at Caulfield. Craig Williams took off quite early on him and he seemed to gas out late. Think with a more conservative ride he can definitely feature in the finish.
Guizot (12) and Odeon (14) continue to pop up in these kind of races but it’s tough to bet on them with any confidence given Guizot started a lot longer than Admiral’s Joker (6) last start and Odeon is tough to catch.
Princess Jenni (15) was a touch disappointing last start at Moonee Valley when she was a heavily backed favourite. She’ll be around the mark but she is very well found at $4.6.
Hellova Street (5) is a tough on-pacer who will be thereabouts but will need a bit of luck to lead from barrier 13 with some pace drawn under him.
Race 9 - 5:25pm
Mitchelton Winery Handicap (1400m)
Market is suggesting it is a match race in two between Big Night Out and Jumbo Ozaki, however, they both have their knocks.
Slight lean towards Big Night Out (12) given his second place to Chicago Cub where the winner had all the favours was extremely brave. $2.4 is under the odds despite him being a great chance.
Easy Beast (9) can run a big race at $12. Was a brave run up on the pace when being run down on the line in the Echuca Cup last start. Should bounce to the front here as well and be hard to catch.
Jumbo Ozaki (14) was lifted over the line by Craig Williams last start and he's drawn out wide here and may have to do some work to come over from the barrier. Tough to back him at that price. Although, like the top pick, he will be hard to beat.
Ef Troop (5) will run well from barrier one and might just have the suck run in behind the leaders and will look a winner at some stage in the race.
Paul's selections
Best bet: Race 1, #2 - Grand Promenade
Next best: Race 4, #14 - Swats That
Best each-way bet: Race 2, #9 - Lucky Fish
Best roughie: Race 5, #14 - King Princess
Slevo's selections
Best bet: Race 9, #12 - Big Night Out
Next best: Race 1, #2 - Grand Promenade
Best each-way bet: Race 3, #2 - Coruscate
Best roughie: Race 7, #16 - Debt'n'Deficit