2025 Ladbrokes Bendigo Cup Preview

THANKS GORGEOUS returns off a short break.

The Peltzer filly has been placed in three of her four starts, the latest being the Group 3 Quezette Stakes where she finished less than a length away in third.

Prior to that, she’d been the runner up to subsequent Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer over 1200m at Caulfield.

The form around her is solid and she’s sure to find this easier than what she’s previously contested.

She looked good winning a recent Flemington jump out and draws to receive every chance under Celine Gaudray.

DECANTERED just wanted to overdo it last start when stepping out to the mile for the first time in the Stutt Stakes but he looks nicely placed here back in trip and in grade.

The runner up at his first two starts, he proved too good at this third outing, as he let down strongly to score over the 1425m at Geelong.

There was plenty of merit in his performance as he was three wide without cover throughout and the runner up has since been stakes placed.

He’s fit, a crossover noseband goes on to help him relax and the inside draw will see him afforded a cosy run in transit.

OPENING ADDRESS just looked to peak on his run late when resuming over 1400m at Seymour and he will have taken plenty of benefit from the outing.

The son of So You Think put the writing on the wall in his first campaign, scoring a dominant maiden win at his second race start and he had no trouble when stepping out in stronger company.

He finished a narrow second in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase and proved superior in the Listed Batman Stakes before a well-earned spell.

He failed to figure during four starts earlier in the year, but all of those runs were at stakes level, and he looks to have returned in fine order this time in.

The rise to the mile will suit and I think he’s the one to beat.

TEE EIGHT is racing well and I think he’ll continue to rise through the grades.

The NZ bred son of Embellish didn’t have the best of luck three runs back when held up and unable to build moment over the 2069m at Moe but he finished off strongly into second, putting up a six-length gap back to third.

He recorded a deserved maiden win at Warrnambool at his following outing and last time, over 2520m at Cranbourne, he again closed off strong to finish a neck away in second.

He’s hard fit, he looks to have plenty of upside, and this looks an ideal race for him.

STEEL MOVE looks very progressive, and he was unlucky not to have won over the 1429m at Seymour two runs back.

Held up in the early part of the straight, the Blue Point gelding hit the line strongly to finish a narrow second.

Last start, over 1447m at Geelong, he appeared to have every chance but just held his ground to the line.

Lightly raced, the Godolphin galloper has shown plenty of talent but still does a few things wrong.

He drops back in trip and with the blinkers going on for the first time, I think he’ll be right in this.

PROVED will look to maintain her unbeaten record as she kicks off her campaign.

The Time Test mare has done everything right so far and her record reflects that as she’s made it five wins from as many starts.

She’s been given three 800m jump outs in preparation for her return and has impressed winning her two most recent heats.

She draws to get the right run under Carleen Helel and the 1100m kick off looks ideal.

QUIETNESS was doing her best work late last start over 2000m in the Coongy and she’s sure to relish the rise to 2400m.

The mare enjoyed a short break after her three solid performances in the Winter, in what was her first preparation on Australian soil.

She had no trouble adapting as she finished the runner up in both the Tatts Gold Crown and Grafton Cup and she’s returned in top order as she was beaten only narrowly when resuming over the mile at Randwick.

Beginning her career in the UK, she recorded five wins from her eleven starts, two of which were over the mile and a half journey.

She looks ready to peak at her third run back and gets the services of Jamie Melham, who will take the reins for the O’Shea / Charlton team.

AHHA AHHA returns to the races.

The Clinton McDonald trained mare has turned out some top performances against solid opposition and she looks to have plenty of upside.

She broke her maiden in dominant fashion at Cranbourne last preparation, and three starts later on the Hillside, she again recorded another commanding win as she extended away to put up a three-length margin in BM78 company.

She’s cruised to the line under a hold in two recent jump outs and looks ready to fire first up.

BIG SEXY has won two of his three starts and was desperately unlucky at his only other outing.

The four-year-old son of Swear showed plenty of heart on debut at Warrnambool as he charged through late between runners to score by a long neck.

He then headed to Flemington, where he got back and was held up behind runners until 200m out, where he closed off strongly to get within 2.2 lengths of the winner.

Sent for a break, he returned in fine style with a dominant 2.75 length victory over 1100m at Hamilton.

This is tougher but he looks very progressive, and I think he’ll relish the rise to 1400m.