A rain-affected meeting is on the cards at Bendigo on Wednesday, with all eight races to be run on a Heavy 10 surface.
Showers are expected throughout the day, adding another layer of difficulty to an already tricky midweek card, where a handful of short-priced favourites are prominent in early markets.
For our thoughts, analysis and best bets across the program, check out our race-by-race Bendigo preview below.
GOLD CHALICE (3) looks the clear pick with race experience on a heavy track already to his name.
Mark Walker’s colt showed good early speed on debut at Geelong a couple of months ago over slightly further, holding his ground well to finish third.
Back in trip from a favourable draw, he looks very hard to beat against a field largely made up of first starters.
| 3. Gold Chalice (4) 58kg3 |
I AM ARIA (3) has opened at a short quote, and that is understandable given she contested the Blue Diamond during the autumn.
The daughter of I Am Invincible finished well back there, but her earlier efforts in the Preview and Prelude were full of merit, placing in both.
Kicking off over 1000m looks ideal, and with two encouraging trials under her belt, she only needs to cope with the conditions to take plenty of beating.
| 3. I Am Aria (3) 57kg230x |
The Clayton Douglas-trained mare was excellent over 1400m at Cranbourne last start, settling with cover around midfield before peeling out near the 300m and finishing strongly into second.
Her prior wet-track experience is a key advantage here, and the way she attacked the line suggests the rise in trip will suit. From a favourable low draw, she profiles as one of the main contenders.
| 4. Bellabama (3)SCRATCHED: | |||
DIAMOND EYE (1) is worth another chance after a luckless defeat as favourite at Sale a couple of weeks ago over slightly further.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior was badly held up around the turn before finally getting into the clear at the top of the straight, where she quickened sharply to hit the front, only to be grabbed right on the line by the fast-finishing Coronationhercules.
It is fair to say she likely wins with clear running, so back to 1300m with Jake Noonan staying aboard, she looks very hard to beat.
| 1. Diamond Eye (1) 58kg7×342 |
INSAIN HARRY (5) resumes here with a solid first-up profile behind him.
From the low draw, he should enjoy an economical run around midfield, and he has already shown he can handle rain-affected ground.
The son of Zousain hit the line strongly for second at Caulfield Heath before the break and handled big weights well throughout his last campaign. The 1000m may be short of his preferred trip, but with only three unplaced runs from 15 starts, his overall consistency is hard to ignore.
| 5. Insain Harry (2)SCRATCHED: | |||
SET ME LOOSE (5) is straightforward to make a case for.
The Lindsey Smith-trained mare was dominant two starts ago at Seymour, putting three lengths on her rivals in a win that has since been well franked. She then stepped up in grade at Caulfield and was far from disgraced, finishing fourth behind some handy types.
The recent trial between runs should have kept her ticking over nicely, which looks a positive as she tackles 1100m for the first time.
| 5. Set Me Loose (10)SCRATCHED: | |||
The Godolphin gelding, by Frosted, was looking to make it two from two after winning on debut at Ballarat, but contact with another runner at the top of the straight likely cost him momentum before he finished second to Nightime Star.
Two runs over 1200m should have him ready for the rise in distance, and his heavy-track experience in both starts is a major plus. He will need some luck from the awkward draw, but with even luck, he can be right in the finish.
| 11. Yuki (9) 58.5kg12 |
STAY HUMBLE (3) could take some catching if he can offset the wide draw without doing too much early work.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has been honest this campaign, placing at Mornington and Sandown to open the prep before fading after racing on speed in a stronger race last start.
The 1.5kg claim gives him some relief at the weights, and he has previous form over 1500m at Sandown that reads well for this. Now fourth-up and fully fit, he looks one of the main runners they will need to chase down.
| 3. Stay Humble (12)SCRATCHED: | |||