Bendigo, Saturday 4 January
Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: It is an outstanding race to commence the program with many winning chances. TIGER BAND WAGON (5) finished second behind Triple Eight in an open class event at Geelong last outing and is the emergency for the Bendigo Cup so he must be respected. TANGO TARA (10) finished third in the same race at Geelong and recorded a slick mile rate of 1.52.9 at Bendigo on November 20. He is poorly drawn but looms as one of the leading chances. LOUIE LOU I (1) is stepping up in grade but he led early before taking cover at the bell when a big winner last week and he is drawn to receive a similar trip here so he must be respected. RAKERO SLAMMER (4) has had no luck whatsoever at his most recent performances and has claims along with SEW WHAT (8), which possesses a powerful finishing burst. CODE BAILEY (9) hasn’t raced since April 2023 but he is a classy pacer when racing at his peak form and he will be fitter for several recent trial performances.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely early leader), 4,5,7
SELECTIONS: TIGER BAND WAGON (5), TANGO TARA (10), LOUIE LOU I (1), RAKERO SLAMMER (4)
RATINGS: 5,10/ 1/ 4,8/ 9/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: TIGER BAND WAGON (5) each way
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: EMILY VINCENT (6) led out then took cover when she scored in fast time at Warragul then finished fifth behind Nakula at Melton, where she had no clear run and appeared to be very unlucky. She is racing in peak form and should prove hard to beat. BOLRAMSKI (8) is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second line but he looms as the main danger. He has been placed in three of his past four starts and ran a game race for third behind the smart former New Zealand pacer Raging Whitebait at Geelong last outing. HEZ HARRYWHO (2) is a bold front running pacer, which may prove hard to catch if he can head off REIGN EM IN (1) at the start. HARRYHOO (11) was beaten by a long way when resuming but he did compete against the open class pacers in the Gunbower Cup and he is likely to find this assignment to be much easier.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 1,6
SELECTIONS: EMILY VINCENT (6), BOLRAMSKI (8), HARRYHOO (11), HEZ HARRYWHO (2)
RATINGS: 6,8/ 2,11/ 7,10
SUGGESTED BET: EMILY VINCENT (6) each way
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: RAGING WHITEBAIT (5) faces a steep rise in class on his first two Australian victories but he has been very impressive and he has the ability to take the next step forward. KEAYANG WASABI (4) is returning from a New South Wales campaign, where he led throughout to win a heat of the Brian Hancock series and finished fourth in the Final. He is a fast beginner and should give a bold showing. DIAMOND ECLIPSE (9) settled three back on the inside and stormed along the sprint lane to score over Seve in a mile rate of 1.53.3 last week. He is racing well and should be competitive again. LAYDEN (11) possesses a powerful finishing burst and didn’t have much luck at his latest sixth so he cannot be left out of calculations.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 1,3,5,6
SELECTIONS: RAGING WHITEBAIT (5), KEAYANG WASABI (4), DIAMOND ECLIPSE (9), LAYDEN (11)
RATINGS: 4,5/ 9/ 6,11,12/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: RAGING WHITEBAIT (5) each way
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: MICHAYWEY (6) began smartly from a similar wide draw to find the lead and set up a genuine tempo when second in the Horsham 3yo Classic. He is racing well having won two of his past four starts and he should prove hard to beat against this line up. CHEERSTOLOU (9) settled three back on the markers and finished off solidly for a close second at Cobram last outing. He gets into this race nicely with a concession claim and looms as one of the leading chances. POLLY PEACHUM (3) is a brilliant beginner and performs best when she is able to lead. She led throughout at a Kilmore victory on November 28 so she is worth a ticket each way. ANAKIN (5) and SHAQ (7) are both capable of showing up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 1,6
SELECTIONS: MICHAYWEY (6), CHEERSTOLOU (9), POLLY PEACHUM (3), SHAQ (7)
RATINGS: 6,9/ 3,5,7/ 2,4
SUGGESTED BET: MICHAYWEY (6) to win
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: QUEEN ELIDA (5) is returning from her Inter Dominion campaign, where she won two heats and finished fifth in the Final. She has built up an exceptional record over the sprint distance and will take beating from her good draw. KEAYANG CHUCKY (10) is poorly drawn but his Inter Dominion campaign was sound as he was placed in two heats and was runner up behind The Locomotive in the Final. He has a tough draw to overcome but he is racing in outstanding form and must be respected. ARCEE PHOENIX (6) was returning from a New Zealand campaign when a handy finishing second behind AROHA KOE (4) at Cranbourne last week. His last victory was over the champion trotter Just Believe in a mile rate of 1.53.5 over the sprint distance so he cannot be left out of calculations. ALDEBARAN ZEUS (3) is a fast beginner and is a short course specialist so he looms as a value hope from the perfect draw.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely early leader), 1,5,7
SELECTIONS: QUEEN ELIDA (5), KEAYANG CHUCKY (10), ARCEE PHOENIX (6), ALDEBARAN ZEUS (3)
RATINGS: 5,10/ 6/ 3,4/ 8
SUGGESTED BET: QUEEN ELIDA (5) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: TACT MCLEOD (5) is a classy New Zealand pacer, which pushed forward to find the lead and recorded a mile of 1.50.4 at Menangle on his Australian debut. He was very unlucky in both the New Zealand Cup and the New Zealand FFA prior and he has the best draw out of the major chances so he is clearly the horse to beat. CANTFINDABETTORMAN (11) won a heat of the Inter Dominion on opening night and didn’t seem to back up in the final two rounds. He bounced back with a week between outings when he easily won the Consolation of that series and he should make his presence felt here. TRIPLE EIGHT (9) has won three of his past five starts and was brilliant in winning at Melton last week, where he recorded a mile rate of 1.52.7. He has the perfect trailing draw and must be considered as one of the leading chances again. BULLETPROOF BOY (10) continues to impress and was a big winner after working hard at Melton two starts ago. He defeated easier opposition at Globe Derby last outing but he should run his usual honest race. ROCK N ROLL DOO (13) makes his Australian return and is a winning chance if he can bounce back to his best form.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (likely leader), 4,6,7
SELECTIONS: TACT MCLEOD (5), CANTFINDABETTORMAN (11), TRIPLE EIGHT (9), BULLETPROOF BOY (10)
RATINGS: 5/ 11/ 9,10/ 13/ 4,6,7/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: TACT MCLEOD (5) to win
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: YOUNGGIFTEDANDBLACK (9) is resuming since failing to finish in the Angelique Classic in October but she has been performing very well at the trials. She is a tough mare and follows out behind the likely leader in KIA ORA BEAUTY (2) so she warrants consideration. HEAVENLY GIPSY (8) is very awkwardly drawn but she appears to be well placed against this line up and is worth an investment. TWISTED BLISS (7) possesses a powerful finishing burst and is racing well enough to figure in the finish but it is likely she will settle in a rearward position from the wide draw. She finished off best to win over Captain Pins at Bendigo two starts ago. TALLARAS SHADOW (4) and VEE EM GEE MACRAY (6) are handy mares that cannot be left out of calculations.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 5
SELECTIONS: YOUNGGIFTEDANDBLACK (9), HEAVENLY GIPSY (8), TWISTED BLISS (7), TALLARAS SHADOW (4)
RATINGS: 8,9/ 7/ 4,6/ 2,5
SUGGESTED BET: YOUNGGIFTEDANDBLACK (9) each way
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: THUNDA STRUCK (6) trailed the leader and used the sprint lane when he dashed home to comfortably defeat PICKET WIRE (7) then followed with a second in the Elmore Cup. He is a handy 4yo trotter and should prove hard to beat again. DESTRIER (4) was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished fast when an unlucky fourth at Melton last week. He is having a prosperous campaign and should be competitive again. ALDEBARAN BOYD (9) finished fourth in the Elmore Cup then followed with a handy finishing second behind Claudy An Gus. He should go well again under these conditions. PICKET WIRE (7) trailed the leader and used the sprint lane when third at Cranbourne on Saturday night. She is not as well drawn now but she is worth thought again.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (possible leader), 4,5,6,7
SELECTIONS: THUNDA STRUCK (6), DESTRIER (4), ALDEBARAN BOYD (9), PICKET WIRE (7)
RATINGS: 6/ 4,9/ 7/ 1,2,8
SUGGESTED BET: THUNDA STRUCK (6) to win
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: SUNDONS COURAGE (5) has finished off boldly at his past two attempts against the open class and he should take beating under these conditions. AARDIEBYTHEHILL (6) did a lot of work but was safely held at his Australian debut. His form in New Zealand was sound against elite opposition so he is worth another chance. ILLAWONG LARAJAY (4) sprinted quickly from four back on the markers to win against similar opposition at Cranbourne last week. She is a versatile mare and must be considered as a winning chance again. ALDEBARAN ACRUX (1) has a few gait issues but she is a winning chance if she can deliver a fool proof display.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (possible leader), 1,6
SELECTIONS: SUNDONS COURAGE (5), AARDIEBYTHEHILL (6), ILLAWONG LARAJAY (4), ALDEBARAN ACRUX (1)
RATINGS: 5/ 4,6/ 1/ 3/ 2/ 7
SUGGESTED BET: SUNDONS COURAGE (5) each way
