Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Bendigo on Wednesday, October 7th.
Eight races at Bendigo once again this Wednesday, where the track is a Good 4 and the rail out 3m for Melbourne's midweek metropolitan meeting. Our Melbourne expert Trent Crebbin has assessed each race in detail below, so check out his preview and betting tips!
Bendigo Racing Tips: Wednesday, October 7th
Best Bet: Race 5 - (7) Grand Scholar
Best Value: Race 2 - (9) Exalted Crown
(5) Far Enough has been met with early market support off the back of a good jumpout win in fast time. He won’t need to be a star to win this and if he brings that level of talent, he’ll go close to winning this. The clear danger looks to be (2) Gutsy who draws barrier one for Kah. This gelding took on a few good races last prep and wasn’t beaten far. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Far Enough start odds on in this field on debut and he’s the clear on top pick.
I thought (9) Exalted Crown was value here at $8. He ran well on debut at Wodonga, getting a fair way back but finishing well to be beaten under 2L. The overall time for the 1400m was quite solid off a good early tempo. He was very well backed that day to start $3 and he’ll appreciate the 1600m here. (8) Black Penn will also appreciate 1600m after a good run behind Trodaire last start. Contrastingly to Exalted Crown, his 1400m race was slower overall but quicker home. He gets Callow on and is going to be hard to beat. The favourite is (12) Rousseau who is obviously in the mix but has had a few chances now and is becoming quite costly.
Saver: (8) Black Penn $4.60
Bit of a nightmare race, especially with the dominant favourite unlikely to get a run. I’ll side with a debutant at decent odds in (7) Eco Warrior for the Ellerton/Zahra stable with Damien Lane in the saddle. The camp are good with their young horses and can get them to win fresh quite often. Lane taking the ride is a good sign and the jumpout was solid. (11) Zoutellus has been around the mark in two races and could push forward from the barrier. The Mick Price pair of (13) Chomeur and (14) Sabre Princess have both indicated some talent and wouldn’t shock.
Good race. I’ll side with (3) River Twain here who will be rock hard fit and maps beautifully from barrier 5. He was only narrowly denied at The Valley last start and whilst that race might have a few knocks he’s going very well. The other Twain, (9) Twain’s Express was very good on debut. Barrier one could be a touch difficult, especially if the rain has hit and the inside is beginning to chop out. (6) Unanimous has been close up but I really don’t rate that Peggy Selene/Jerle form line. He was strong through the line but likely gets a long way back here.
Another really good contest here with three winning chances. (4) The Gauch is flying and won in this grade with ease last start. He’s up in the weights now with 61kg but he’s hard to knock. (6) Ocular was devastating first up before pulling up lame down the straight last start when $2.40 favourite. On different days but both at this track and distance on a good 4, Ocular ran 1.28 seconds faster, including every split faster. If you can forgive Ocular down the straight, he’s probably the easier pick, although the track will be vital. If they are making ground and coming off the fence, I won’t be losing on Ocular. The other chance, and the one that gets map favours is (7) Grand Scholar who comes here first up. She kicked off last prep with three straight wins, leading all the way in all of them. She gets Zahra on first up, draws well in barrier 5 and there doesn’t look to be a stack of pressure on paper. Her 3yo form was very strong and she looks to have come back well. Any on pace bias will make her very hard to beat here, and she is perhaps the percentage play here. Very tough to make a call between these without seeing the track, but I’ll side with Grand Scholar.
Have to be against (8) Tatalina here. She brings a dominant SP profile which will keep her short enough here, but she hasn’t done enough this prep to warrant being as short as she is. The lead up looks to be between (4) Zoffala and (10) Miss Five Hundred. Zoffala was given a great ride, following Miss Five Hundred the whole race and pouncing late to win comfortably. Miss Five Hundred started $2 to Zoffala’s $5.50, and Miss Five Hundred does get a 2.5kg weight swing here, so I think there’s a case to be made that the tables can be turned. (6) Flag Edition drops in grade but struggles to win and maps awkwardly from barrier one. If you’re an each way player I struggle to see Miss Five Hundred missing a place north of $2, so I’d rather take that than the $2.80 Zoffala or the $3.20 Tatalina.
(10) Miss Five Hundred
$7.00
Looks to be a fair bit of pace engaged here, which will help (18) Steamboat Rock on the quick back up. In hindsight he was going to struggle last start, getting a long way back off a very slow tempo. He ran the fastest last 600m and 200m of the race but just had no hope how the race was run. His first up run was very good when having no luck whatsoever, and I think this race will suit with a couple of fit horses that should force the pace. If we are on a soft track by now and they are coming wide, which I think is very possible, barrier 9 will suit him down to the ground. The danger does look to be (2) Think ‘n’ Fly who was solid first up and is 2/2 second up. He draws wide here but does look to roll forward and is good enough. (6) Zero Doubt was impressive winning last start, but did start $26 and got an easy lead, which I don’t think will be the case here. Interesting to note, Olly is booked to ride both Steamboat Rock and Think ‘n’ Fly. I’m not sure what the case will become scratching time- if Steamboat Rock is scratched Think ‘n’ Fly will be my top pick.
(18) Steamboat Rock
$7.00
Really tricky finish to the card. If the inside is holding up, I’m very keen to be with (2) Westbrook Park. I thought his first up run behind Shotmaker was very good, running the second fastest last sectionals of the race. His form last prep was very good, with maiden form around Russian Camelot and Banquo, before bolting in a bm70 over November Dreaming. I’d argue he’s the best horse in the race, gets in fairly with 60.5kg after the claim and looks to have come back well, but if the inside is the inferior ground he might struggle, especially for a horse that has done most of his racing on good tracks. (11) Casa Del Sol brings solid 3yo form behind Aysar and The Brumby. He was comfortably beaten there but that could be enough to win here. He looks the danger ready to pounce if Westbrook Park isn’t suited.
