Golden Mile Day is the headline event at Bendigo Racecourse each year and we are poised for another exciting day of racing on Saturday.
Capacity fields have been confirmed for almost all nine races on Saturday and we have analysed every runner in each to complete our take on the 2015 Golden Mile Day Best Bets.
Race 4 No. 7 Miss Gidget
Miss Gidget was unable to match the late pace of eventual champion Pride Of Dubai when ninth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) last time out, but is sure to relish a step back in class for the Vobis Gold Rush on Saturday. Placing a close second to Thurlow in the Listed Santa’s Magical Kingdom Stakes (1000m) on debut in November, the Gonski filly returned to the paddock following a credible performance for fourth behind the likes of Bantam and Miss Idyllic in the Adapt Australia Handicap (1100m) on November 29th; placing second in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m) on her only other start prior to the Blue Diamond Stakes. Trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson have experienced several notable results when jockey Ben Melham has taken the ride on their horses, and I’m confident Miss Gidget ticks all the boxes over a field which includes nine debutants.
Click Here for our full Vobis Gold Rush Betting Market
Race 7 No 4 Gris Caro
Gris Caro was allocated the somewhat wide barrier 11 for the Golden Mile but is a proven performer first-up and over the distance and is therefore more than capable of delivering on double-figure odds on Saturday. Posting six wins and a further five minor places over his 16 start career to date, Gris Caro won the Listed Balaklava Cup (1600m) upon debuting in Australia in 2013 and continued to impress over a four-start spring preparation last year, namely via an impressive triumph in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) in late September. Partnered by confirmed Golden Mile jockey Ben Melham on that occasion, the With Approval entire will need some luck in transit from barrier 11 but is a leading chance for success.
Click Here for our full Golden Mile Betting Market
Race 8 No. 2 Java
Talented three-year-old Java has returned to racing in exceptional form this time in and arguably offers the best value for money of any runner at Bendigo this weekend, especially in the Guineas. Saddled by Lee and Anthony Freedman, the Medaglia D’Oro gelding hit the line close to three lengths in the clear in a pair of minor sprints through December; beating a talented field in the Heading Out Hair & Beauty BM64 (1400m) on January 7th before making a successful transition to black type racing in taking out the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1300m) on January 26th. Displaying a keen turn of foot late to finish fourth amongst open company in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) last time out, Java will also need a little luck in running to overcome the awkward barrier 13 on Saturday but I’m confident his class will prevail in a return to the winner’s circle.