The Bendigo Jockey Club takes centre stage in Victoria this Wednesday, with eight races on the card and Ladbrokes bringing you our full preview and best bets.
Wet weather continues to keep punters guessing, with the track rated a Soft 7 at the time of publication and the rail positioned four metres out.
With a huge day of Group 1 action looming at Caulfield on Saturday, headlined by the Memsie Stakes, see how we’re assessing every race on the Bendigo program in our Wednesday preview.
AEMOND (1) makes his debut for the Freedman stable off the back of several encouraging jump outs.
The three-year-old son of Written Tycoon finished second in his latest heat behind New Zealand Group 1 winner Seize The Day, closing the gap nicely when chasing down the straight.
The booking of Mark Zahra suggests plenty of confidence from the stable, while the inside draw should allow him to enjoy an economical run in transit.
| 1. Aemond (2) Scratched: | |||
MADAME ADELAIDE (6) looks a strong each-way chance if her latest jump out is any indication.
The daughter of Per Incanto travelled close to the speed before letting down impressively in the straight at Wangaratta, powering clear to win by nearly six lengths with plenty in reserve through the line.
Like most of her rivals, she makes her debut for Andrew Dale, and from the inside draw she should have every chance to roll forward and find the lead, provided she handles the conditions.
| 6. Madame Adelaide (2) J: Jye Mcneil 57kg T: Andrew Dale |
CARRY TRADE (5) is worth another chance third-up.
The daughter of Deep Field handled heavy conditions well when resuming at Seymour two starts ago, working home strongly from a difficult five-wide position to finish runner-up.
She faced a similar challenge over 1400m here second-up just under a month ago, covering ground three-wide throughout before finishing just outside the placings.
She draws much better this time, while the addition of blinkers for the first time is another positive. Fitter for the run, she looks ready to produce her best performance.
| 5. Carry Trade (6) Scratched: | |||
MELBOURNE BOY (10) returns as a gelding after making an encouraging debut at Sandown Lakeside.
Ciaron Maher’s three-year-old was slow away and held up along the rail around the turn, but once he got into the clear, he let down strongly to finish third and charge through the line.
Sticking to 1400m is the main query, but with a three-week break between runs, he will be hard to hold out if Ben Allen finds the right position.
| 10. Melbourne Boy (6) Scratched: | |||
INVISIBLE MAGIC (15) can be hard to catch in the winners’ circle, but she brings plenty of wet-track experience to this contest.
Her last two runs at this level have been encouraging, including a recent effort over 100m shorter where she came from the back of the field to finish 4.5 lengths behind Electric Elvis.
She meets that rival better at the weights on Wednesday, which gives her a chance to close the gap and make her presence felt at double-figure odds.
| 15. Invisible Magic (3) J: Jabez Johnstone 54.5kg 37844T: Ciaron Maher |
GINA’S A STAR (10) finished off strongly when stepping up in grade over this track and distance earlier this month, holding on for third.
The Mitch Freedman-trained mare was coming off a convincing four-length maiden win at Ballarat, with that form receiving a boost when the third-placegetter from that race won subsequently.
She will need to do some early work from the wide draw, but with proven wet-track ability and John Allen aboard, she looks capable of making her presence felt.
| 10. Gina’s A Star (9) J: John Allen 57kg 7×413T: Mitchell Freedman |
DREAMZEL (1) carries the top weight but remains well treated with the benefit of the 1.5kg claim.
He has been consistent for much of this preparation, narrowly winning two starts ago at Sandown in similar conditions before finishing third next time out after being forced to make ground from a wider position.
The nearly four-week break between runs looks ideal, and he should appreciate racing on a surface with plenty of give. With conditions in his favour, he looks a leading chance.
| 1. Dreamzel (3) J: Jackson Radley 58.5kg 19513T: Tom Dabernig |
ZORRO’S FLIGHT (7) is another runner who relishes wet conditions, with a win and a placing on heavy ground.
He scored narrowly in similar conditions at Sale four starts ago before returning to the winner’s list two runs later over a mile, charging home from the tail of the field to win by 2.5 lengths.
The 1800m proved a little beyond him on the Caulfield Heath track last start, but dropping back to 1600m looks ideal. He is now at peak fitness and should be competitive.
| 7. Zorro’s Flight (6) J: Billy Egan 60kg 21210T: Patrick Payne | |||
| Most recently 10th of 12 in a Bm74 at Caulfield Heath on August 8 over 1800m, on a slow track; 8 len behind Perfect Ten with 58.5kg at $5. The run before that won by 2.5 len at Sale on July 26 over 1600m in soft going defeating Nearing Liberty with 60.5kg at $3.70. Back in the right race and rates highly. | |||