Wednesday racing is always good, but it has been outstanding recently and that trend is set to continue this week with the running of the Group 3 Bendigo Cup.
The Bendigo Cup is typically one of the better country feature races during the Spring Carnival, and a quality field of local and international stayers will chase their share in $400,000 on Wednesday.
Bendigo Cup – Winner
No. 3 Pondus – Bet Now: $5.00
Irish raider Pondus will have his first Australian start in the Bendigo Cup and his best form would see him into the finish.
The Sea The Moon gelding has recorded three wins and four placings from only twelve career starts so far, and returned to the races in June for second in a Listed race over 2515m at Limerick.
He won over a mile and a half at Listed level in July, but has finished down the order at each of his last two starts, including the famed Ebor Handicap.
This is a drop in class from that race, he’s been freshened and I think he’ll take plenty of beating in the Bendigo Cup.
Bendigo Cup – 2nd
No. 6 Zebrowski – Bet Now: $5.00
Zebrowski has returned to the races in excellent form this time and the Bendigo Cup looks another nice race for him.
The Team Hawkes-trained gelding was a notable performer during his three-year-old season, and ended his prep second in the Group 1 Australian Derby.
He needed his first couple of starts and clearly a longer trip when resuming this time, but ran fourth in the Group 3 Kingston Town, sixth in The Metropolitan and second in the Neds Herbert Power Stakes leading into this race.
He is at peak fitness and retains the services of William Pike for the Bendigo Cup.
Bendigo Cup – 3rd
No. 13 Saracen Knight – Bet Now: $6.00
Saracen Knight was a little flat over a mile and a half at Caulfield on Blue Sapphire Day, but I am happy to forgive the run, and the Bendigo Cup looks a winnable race for him.
The Camelot gelding has had just three starts since arriving in Australia, finishing seventh over a mile at The Valley at winning in BM84 company leading into his last start miss.
Fitter fourth-up, drawn well with only 55kgs and Damien Oliver in the saddle, I can’t really find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Bendigo Cup – 4th
No. 2 Lord Belvedere – Bet Now: $4.80
Lord Belvedere is another horse that was a little underwhelming last start, but his form prior was excellent, and I’m expecting an improved effort in the Bendigo Cup.
Lord Belvedere won a couple of decent staying races, including the Banjo Patterson Series Final at Flemington before being freshened, and picked up where he left off with a lovely win over the likes of Persan and Schabau at HQ last month.
He finished eighth in the Bart Cummings last time out, and I am confident that he’ll be far more effective on Wednesday.
Bendigo Cup Suggested Bets
- 2 Units straight out #3 Pondus
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections above