2026 Golden Mile Day Tips & Preview (Bendigo) | Saturday 2 May

Houdini has been racing in strong and consistent form since resuming this time and hasn’t finished worse than second at his five latest appearances, winning twice. A repeat of his latest performance to get up in BM70 company at Sandown last month would see him into the finish again.

While he has only made two appearances at the races so far, The Speed Machine couldn’t have been more impressive, winning in dominant fashion on debut at Morphettville before repeating the dose on Mornington Cup Day a fortnight ago. Fitter third up and from the good draw, I think he’ll get his chance again, and he does look the one to beat on exposed form.

Damas has won three of his last five starts, recording consecutive victories in races at Warracknabeal and the ‘Bool two and three runs back, while he wasn’t disgraced on the placegetters’ heels at Sandown last time out. He steps out this week in peak order and is another one that should get his chance from a low draw.

It has been a while since Otago won a race (January 2024), but he’s turned in several competitive performances this time in, and another one doesn’t look to be far away. Having overcome some traffic to finish third, beaten a length over a mile at Sandown last time out, I’m confident that run will have brought him right back on, and something like this doesn’t look beyond him.

While Oh Too Good is yet to strike in two runs back from a break, both races at Caulfield were arguably stronger fields than the one she steps out in this week, and we know how good this horse is at her best. She’s also one that tends to enjoy sharp improvement a little further into his preparations, and with the benefit of another recent trial under her belt, she looks to be perfectly placed this week.

Unlucky not to have won both of his first two runs back this time, King Tut produced arguably the best performance of his career so far to beat home the likes of Prevailed and Boltsaver at Caulfield three weeks ago. He’s a fit horse, the small rise in trip looks to suit and he drops substantially in the weights this week.

Street Artist was a strong and consistent performer last time in, winning consecutive races at Mornington and here at Bendigo most notably, while he was only denied by Pallaton down the Flemington straight during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Despite being sent off a popular favourite in the market at Mornington when resuming, the Super Seth gelding clearly needed the run, and he’s open to plenty of improvement this week.

Gold Coast Belle hasn’t run a bad race since debuting, winning three of five and finishing second on the other two occasions, and she has continued to improve with each run back this time. Having put paid to a classy BM74 field at Caulfield last time out, she’s ready for this rise in class and she is my best bet on the program.

Osipenko has been charged with carrying a 60kg topweight, but he’s second up and open to plenty of improvement, and he represents real value in Golden Mile betting in my opinion. Osipenko turned in several pleasing performances throughout 2025 and won the Little Dance in November before a couple of runs in Group 1 company over in Perth. Having kept his best work for late when fourth, beaten a little under three lengths in the Victoria Handicap when resuming, he’s a horse that tends to improve noticeably second up from a spell, and we can have an each way play at the big price.

Having returned to action a winner down the straight at Flemington, Stoli Bolli attracted interest in the market at Mornington second up but ultimately finished on the placegetters’ heels. Rarely is he far away but often, he is the bane of punters’ existence. Third up from a spell and in peak order this week, I’m willing to give him the chance to win again.