The great city of Bendigo is set to host Victoria’s major metro meeting this Wednesday with another eight races making up the program.
A fine day weather-wise is expected with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail in the true position.
We’ve run the rule over the entire meeting, and you can find our best bet in Race 4 and a nice value play to end the day with a mare making her first start for a new stable.
As always, if you’re looking for the best bets at Bendigo this Wednesday, check out our entire race-by-race preview below!
Race 1 - 12:25pm AEDT
Vale Fiona Ralph 3YO Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
JAMESJOHNO (4) didn’t have the best of luck last start over 1300m here off a break, boxed in at the top of the straight before being forced to check off across heels.
The son of Strasbourg was strong through the line once he found clear air down the outside however, bolting in late to finish a narrow second Elizabass.
With a few weeks between starts and the extra trip likely suiting, even luck should see him threatening once again.
1 Unit JamesJohno (4)
Race 2 - 1:00pm AEDT
Budget Car and Truck Rental Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
FINAL BOY (2) might run a cheeky race here third-up over 1400m.
Quinton Scott’s gelding is still chasing his first win from five starts, but I thought he gave a nice sight leading for most of the way over this distance Warrnambool second-up before his conditioning just gave way.
This looks to be a fairly thin field in terms of talent, and given he was stepping up sharply from 1000m last time out, he should be better for that most recent run.
1 Unit Each-Way Final Boy (2)
Race 3 - 1:35pm AEDT
Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)
MONTE CASSINO (2) is second-up for Glen Thomson after charging down the middle of the straight to run second at Pakenham on return.
The Tivaci four-year-old was thrown in the deep end racing over 1400m fresh from a good break, a run that sets up nicely for this rise to the mile Jamie Mott sticking in the irons.
Form around the likes of Autumn Storm reads nicely on his resume and he does appear likely to settle forward and make his own luck on the speed.
1 Unit Monte Cassino (2)
Race 4 - 2:10pm AEDT
Workforce Extensions Maiden Plate (1100 METRES)
SHAMATEUR (5) won’t be a maiden for much longer.
This three-year-old by Shamus Award presents fitter third-up, last seen fighting it out for the minor money over 1000m here at Bendigo, where he closed the gap nicely along the rail, beaten just under a length in third.
His late times support the rise in distance, and Harry Coffey has a really good feel for him now.
1 Unit Shamateur (5)
Race 5 - 2:45pm AEDT
Roll The Dice Racing BM64 Handicap (1000 METRES)
Tricky race with no real standout, but it does look a winnable contest for COMMANDS SUCCESS (6) second-up.
Dwayne Reid’s gelding was unlucky not to run a place at Wangaratta a fortnight ago, pushing forward from a three-wide position to finish just under four lengths off the smart Runlikeencryption.
His second-up form has been mixed, but drawn a low gate with Logan Bates accepting the claim, I think he can rediscover some of that same form that saw him win three in a row during the spring last year.
1 Unit Each-Way Commands Success (6)
Race 6 - 3:20pm AEDT
Bendigo Mazda BM58 Handicap (2200 METRES)
TEWKESBURY (1) looks ready for the rise out to 2200m now with a couple of decent runs over the mile to his name.
The McEvoy-trained runner knuckled down to finish midfield last start here only a few weeks earlier and now gets in 2kg lighter under Ryan Houston thanks to the claim.
He doesn’t win out of turn, but typically competitive at this grade with some likable third-up form, another honest showing looks to be on the cards.
1 Unit Tewkesbury (1)
Race 7 - 3:55pm AEDT
Dunlop Pitson & Jenkins Civil BM64 Handicap (1500 METRES)
NARBOLD (4) is open to natural improvement ahead of his second run back from a freshen-up.
Chris Waller’s lightly-raced three-year-old improved on his run from midfield to run third off a four-week break at Sandown last month, only weakening over his final few strides when he was defeated 2.3 lengths by Liberami.
This might be tougher with an extra 4.5kg, but the blinkers go on for the first time now and we know this boy has enough ability to put most of these away in his stride.
1 Unit Narbold (4)
Race 8 - 4:30pm AEDT
Apiam Animal Health BM70 Handicap (1300 METRES)
STYLISH (13) is an intriguing runner going around at a decent price here in her first start for Team Hayes.
A daughter to Fastnet Rock, she’s mixed her form a little through 22 race starts, last seen finishing last in a small field at The Valley over the mile in early February.
Before that, she was runner-up to recent Golden Mile winner Smokin’ Princess, while she also won here at Bendigo last November under Declan Bates, who operates here from a perfect draw.
If the pair settle back off the pace and stalk their way into the straight, this could be a nice leadoff race for her at she looks to get out over further.
1 Unit Each-Way Stylish (13)