Champion trainer Chris Waller has indicated there will be a twofold reason for delight if Soulcombe emerges victorious in the Bendigo Cup.
A win, or even a top-three finish, in Wednesday’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) would secure Soulcombe a coveted start in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next Tuesday.
However, a victory would hold immense significance for jockey Nash Rawiller, who is striving for his second triumph in the Bendigo Cup, a race he previously clinched for Tony Noonan aboard Yammer back in 2000. Rawiller, originally from Bendigo but now based in Sydney, has a distinguished record of success on tracks worldwide.
Waller expressed confidence that Rawiller will exert maximum effort in his pursuit of a second Bendigo Cup success. “Nash was very keen to come down for the Bendigo Cup, and he said to us a couple of weeks ago, ‘try and find something with my weight for the Bendigo Cup’,” Waller recounted. “As it’s worked out, Soulcombe is there and I think it would mean more to Nash than anyone if Soulcombe could win. (I’m sure) he’ll even bring the kitchen sink down.”
It has been a protracted journey back to racing for Soulcombe, who endured a hiatus of nearly three years due to tendon ailments. Soulcombe finished second to Without A Fight in the 2023 Melbourne Cup and did not compete again until August 29 at Caulfield, where he finished unplaced behind Caulfield Cup victor Kingswood.
Waller has observed a steady progression in Soulcombe’s form. Should the stayer manage a top-three finish and qualify for the Melbourne Cup, he will participate next Tuesday. “He’s very fit. He hasn’t had a lot of luck in his last two runs,” Waller stated. “The key was getting him back from the tendon issue. It’s been gradual, small steps. We had a couple of attempts, they failed, but he’s finally back and as a result was a little bit softer than what we would have liked first and second up. He’s gradually found that fitness, so there’s a sense of timing there, but we’ll just watch and see, but if he finishes top three, he will run.”
Soulcombe crossed the line seventh behind stablemate Pinhole in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 10, followed by a sixth-place finish in the Geelong Cup (2400m) last week, trailing Point Of Law. Soulcombe is currently priced at $12 in the Bendigo Cup betting with Kings Valley the prevailing $2.90 favourite. Punters looking for the best odds can explore Australian betting sites.