Bendigo Cup quaddie with form and free selections
THE Bendigo Cup can have Melbourne Cup implications and it features in our Wednesday quaddie this week.
One runner in particular has plenty to run for this Wednesday with the Darren Weir-trained Howard Be Thy Name on trail for the Cup.
It will likely have to produce a big effort to progress to Flemington November 1, but it looks a live chance this Wednesday and a possible anchor for quaddie players.
The quaddie starts with the Schweppes Tonic Handicap at 3.20pm and a big field of 16 runners will line up. The remaining legs don’t boast the same numbers, but there will be plenty of interest in the final four races of the day.
Leg 1 – Schweppes Tonic R70 Handicap (1300m)
Curragh King could cause a first leg blowout at nice odds. The Con Kelly-trained gelding has had five starts at Bendigo for one win and two placings, and it wasn’t disgraced when fifth behind the talented Leotie last start. That came on an unsuitable heavy track, but it has won four times on the slow which should suit this Wednesday. Chance from the inside draw.
Top trainer Darren Weir lines up Stringer Bell which has plenty of ability and it wasn’t beaten far by subsequent winner Lucky Liberty two starts back. The four-year-old is a winner of three from nine starts and it has been working steadily since winning fresh up at Geelong. Drawn awkwardly, but is sure to have admirers on the day.
Chamois Road won in rating 64 grade last start over Du Sumpent which is more than capable in these grades. The four-year-old has won three times from seven starts and its distance statistics read very well. It has one win and two placings from four starts at the 1300m and a horse in winning form is one to follow.
Leg 1 tips: 1, 2, 5
Leg 2 – Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m)
Howard Be Thy Name is a quality five-time winner which has been struggling to find its best form, but this is a significant drop in class. The Darren Weir-trained stayer finished third in the Grand Prix Stakes in May before running fourth in the Queensland Derby. It hasn’t been able to show anything since, but this is a very weak Bendigo Cup field and it has the clear class edge.
Francis Of Assisi has marginal form in Europe and the seven-year-old is more suited to jumps racing, but that could be good enough to feature in this. It’s trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin which must be respected and jockey Kerrin McEvoy is riding in great form. Likely to be well backed based on the international factor so include in quaddie bets.
Leg 2 tips: 1, 6
Leg 3 – Symes Motors R90 Handicap (1400m)
Grande Rosso didn’t fire last start at handicap level and its start prior came at rating 78 grade, but the Hayes/Dabernig-trained gelding wouldn’t be lining up if its connections didn’t think it could win. The five-year-old will again carry a light weight of 54kg and it has shown form against the likes of Assign and Pay Up Bro. Chance in an even field.
Streetwise Savoire has had two starts in Melbourne since arriving from Tasmania and it looked solid last time out. The Patrick Payne-trained gelding ran fifth behind Murt The Flirt at Caulfield which is good form for a midweek race and it won’t be paying huge odds again here.
Cauthen is a former top liner from New Zealand which suffered an injury and is on the comeback trail. The six-year-old is a son of Darci Brahma which battled behind Demonstrate last start and it will enjoy the rise in distance. It drops down in weight to 54.5kg due to its poor form, but that could be all it needs to see the winners enclosure once more.
Leg 3 tips: 3, 7, 8
Leg 4 – Aquafil Fresh R70 Handicap (1600m)
The Chairman drops in grade after winning at Moe last start. The Mick Price-trained gelding defeated the handy Curragh and that form should be strong in this grade. Its form prior included a fourth placing behind Inference at Pakenham which again is great form and we’re expecting a big effort.
Loveheart Lass has taken on tougher company than this and it will be better for its recent outing at Pakenham. The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare is having only its third run this year and it showed good signs last start which suggests another good effort is likely. The well-bred mare could go under the radar.
Leg 4 tips: 5, 10