The Bendigo stand alone Saturday meeting always attracts a high calibre selection of city class horses, in what is shaping to be a bumper card on Saturday.
The Bendigo Guineas and Golden Mile highlight the day, and punters should find excellent betting opportunities in these two Listed level events.
In the Bendigo Guineas I am with a filly who does enjoy racing at the track and comes up big odds to my eye.
Whilst in the Golden Mile, expect class to prevail for a gun stable who have taken all before them in the past few weeks.
The Bendigo track is currently rated a Soft 7 with the rail in the True position for the entire circuit.
Cloudy conditions with a slight chance of rain are predicted for the remainder of the week and on Saturday at Bendigo.
Typically the Bendigo track does play fair, with both on and off speed profiles getting their chance.
The Map
The speed looks only moderate in this event, with Air Defence (6) the most likely to roll across and take up the lead.
Others that can be prominent early include Ornamental Lady (10) and Palace Whisper (7) who will be looking to roll forward from their wide draws.
Redeel (9) and Seb Song (5) can find the ideal midfield trailing positions with cover.
Annavisto (8) will need a touch of luck from the gate to find a place midfield in the moving line.
Annavisto ($3.20) has terrible racing manners and is always a risk to get the head up high and over-race throughout.
However, there is no doubt she is highly talented and if she relaxes throughout she will take a power of beating.
She simply threw it all away last start at Caulfield when over-racing early, yet still managed to charge late for second when only just missing (0.1 lengths).
Expect the stable to have put in plenty of work since the last run, to teach her to be less fierce going.
It's a big risk to be taking the current odds, although she may settle on this occasion and blow them all away?
I'm happy to be with Mozzie Monster at the price ($10), who is a winner here at Bendigo and comes out of some hot Group class races a few starts back and a strong Listed event last time out.
Although still at Listed level again this week, it does look a much weaker race and she should relish the respite in class.
I simply cannot have Annavisto on top due to her bad racing manners, however I do concede she is highly talented and appears the best horse in this race. If she settles, she should win.
There are big wraps on Sream Dream and the last start Pakenham win did have merit, where she was held up yet still managed to get over the top of them late.
I expect her to improve again and deserves her chance in stakes grade.
Throw in Palace Whisper, who has won her past two and is another who looks progressive. She comes out of much weaker events however the stable are flying and they have found gun jockey Damien Lane to ride.
Plenty of ticks here and I recommend punters watch betting late for a lead.
1st Mozzie Monster
2nd Annavisto
3rd Scream Dream
4th Palace Whisper
Expect a warp speed tempo early here with a number of key leader profiles drawn wide.
Territory Titan (17), All Too Huiying (14) and Kenya (12) are all likely to be carving across early in attempt to negate their wide draws.
Others that should also be handy include Inverloch (8) and Ironclad (5), who will look to punch up and hold positions just in behind the speed.
The back-marker profile of Rock (19) could have this race put on for him. If the leaders cut each other throughout he can be last man standing and running home over the top.
Rock ($5.00) drops way down in grade from much tougher assignments, which include Group 1 races last campaign. This is a much easier class and if he is anywhere near his top, expect him to be in the finish somewhere.
The speed in the race should see him go back from the wide draw and see him sweep home late.
Team Hawkes could not be in better form and seem to winning all the Victorian features races in recent times. Top hope.
I have to be with the class runner here in Rock who has not seen a field this weak in a long time.
The wide gate poses no concern, as he will be looking to get back and run home hard as the leaders capitulate. Clear on top pick.
Ironclad is an interesting runner who has taken all before him on the SA scene by winning three in a row at Morphettville.
He looks another highly talented import for Australian Bloodstock, who know how to bring a horse up through the grades.
Hi Stranger simply brained them in weaker grade last start where was backed as if unbeatable. He loves this track (2:2-0-0) and out to 1600m now looks perfect.
All Too Huiying will be forced to overcome a tricky draw in gate 14, however is from a leading stable in the Phillip Stokes yard, who could have him ready to fire first up. Include.
1st Rock
2nd Ironclad
3rd Hi Stranger
4th All Too Huiying
For a list of all the tipsters who have posted Bendigo tips for Saturday's racing meet, checkout the dedicated page at theGreatTipOff.com.