Golden Slipper Day isn’t the only 24 Carat program that is set to take place this Saturday – it’s also Golden Mile Day at Bendigo!
The rail will be set out 9 metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (8) range.
Race 1 - 12:15pm AEDT
RSN 945am BM90 Handicap (1400m)
Groundswell clearly needed the run when he finished down the order at Flemington when resuming, but he tends to enjoy sharp improvement into his second-up starts and he looms as a winning chance in this race
The Fastnet Rock gelding began to slowly realise his potential during the spring and recorded consecutive wins at Cranbourne and The Valley most notably.
He has options from the rails draw on Saturday and he is certainly up to BM90 class.
3 Units Groundswell
Race 2 - 12:50pm AEDT
Drinking. Driving. They’re Better Apart BM84 Handicap (1100m)
Street Icon failed to fire last time out, but I’m confident that she’ll improve for that effort, and she’ll relish what is a handy drop in class.
The Street Boss mare has been a good horse for the Kevin Corstens stable throughout her career and finished second in both the Group 3 Bow Mistress Stakes and a BM90 race at Flemington before finishing at the tail of the field in Listed company at The Valley last time.
Moving away from those unique conditions will also suit this horse and she can bounce back into the winner’s stall.
4 Units Street Icon
Race 3 - 1:30pm AEDT
VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m)
There isn’t much exposed form to divulge ahead of this year’s Gold Rush, but I’m happy to have something on Gulf Of Suez.
Gulf Of Suez stamped himself as a runner to follow when winning each of his first two starts on debut in November, and he returned from a freshen-up to fill the minors in the Listed Neds Blue Diamond Preview.
He finished off the pace of Ingratiating in the Talindert Stakes last time, but has been freshened since that run and can strike again.
3 Units Gulf Of Suez
Race 4 - 2:10pm AEDT
Underground Cabling Systems BM84 Handicap (2400m)
Playoffs will take winning form into the fourth on Golden Mile Day and looks well placed to make it two in a row.
The Tavistock gelding has returned to the races in consistent form this time, and was rewarded for his condition with an impressive win over 2500m at The Valley last time out.
He’s rock-hard fit, has found form around some quality gallopers this time, and he can record another win.
2 Units Playoffs
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m)
The consistent Need New Friends doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and the Gold Bracelet looks a lovely feature race for her.
Need New Friends has had five trips to the races since returning from a spell, finishing second an incredible four times, including the Group 3 Frances Tressady last time, and winning on the other occasion.
She is rock-hard fit, drawn ideally and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
4 Units Need New Friends
Race 6 - 3:30pm AEDT
Bendigo St Leger Trial (2200m)
Liqueuro has been excellent since making his debut and he looks a winning chance in the Bendigo St Leger Trial.
Liqueuro charged in to break his maiden at Mornington on debut in January and continued his rise through the grades with a lovely effort over 2000m at Flemington.
He ran home impressively against the pattern of the day to finish fourth at Ladbrokes Park, beaten just over a length by Lofty Star last time out, and getting out in trip looks ideal at this point of his preparation.
2 Units Liqueuro
Race 7 - 4:10pm AEDT
Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m)
Redeel was impressive first-up from a spell and looms as a winning chance in this year’s Bendigo Guineas, at a lovely price ($9.50 at publish).
The Dundeel filly has shown good ability since making her debut in May last year and ended her debut prep fifth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Odeum in the Listed Jim Moloney.
She was a comfortable winner over 1200m at Ladbrokes Park when resuming this time and will only improve for that effort and getting out to 1400m.
2 Units E/W Redeel
Race 8 - 4:50pm AEDT
Listed Golden Mile (1600m)
This is set to be an outstanding edition of the Golden Mile, but I’m confident that Rock will take a power of beating.
Rock has been an excellent horse for the Hawkes yard throughout his career, and he has continued to perform extremely well in far tougher races than this one.
He returned one of the strongest performances of the entire Spring Carnival to destroy his rivals in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap at this point of his preparation, and he ended his prep third in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes.
Having finished third in the Ajax Stakes when resuming a fortnight ago, I’m confident he’ll keep alive his unbeaten second-up record.
6 Units Rock
Race 9 - 5:25pm AEDT
No Fuss Event Hire BM78 Handicap (1300m)
Fighting Harada has returned to the races in career-best form and he can record another win on Golden Mile Day.
The Fighting Sun gelding spent more than two years away from the races after finishing down the order in the 2018 Guineas Prelude, but he returned from the long break to record an impressive win at Pakenham last month with 61kgs in tow.
He backed up that run with another classy win over 1400m at Ladbrokes Park, and this looks the next logical step for him.
3 Units Fighting Harada