Mick’s Mail: Bendigo 12/04/2025

R1- Our day kicks off with a 2400M BM78 of reasonable depth and I’m very keen on Dschingis Prestige, and he’s my best bet on the program. This lightly raced, overseas bred galloper, has improved with every run since arriving here and his first victory isn’t far away. His latest run when unsuited by the pace and wide course showed that he has a good turn of foot and decent intestinal fortitude. He was by far the best run of those he meets again, and a repeat will have him winning.

Inevitable Award hails from the Paul Preusker yard, a very good mentor with staying horses and is coming off a better class of race at Flemington where he acquitted himself admirably. He is a consistent gelding who rarely runs a bad race.

Steel Run has only had 6 starts and displays good promise, winning in good style at his final run last prep. This time in he has been a shade disappointing, but he can quickly turn that around.

Through Irish Eyes has some excellent stats going back a few seasons and if he shows any of that here then he could surprise at huge odds.

Backing #5 Dschingis Prestige

R2- The 2yo race unfortunately doesn’t throw up enough exposed form. Bedourie and Killiana are the standouts from what we have seen on race day. Of those unraced I like Algadon Storm, it will benefit from a few goes in full competition. One to keep a close watch on, especially if there is market support is Salty Pearl. It will have benefited from having a start and being turned out, they can improve markedly at times with this set up.

No Bet

R3- With what was to be my best bet on the card scratched (Otago), I’ve now settled on Persian Spirit as my top pick. He hasn’t missed a place in 9 starts and will again be in the finish somewhere, although being drawn in the next post code certainly won’t help its cause, but if it can overcome this hurdle then it’s the one to beat.

Magarten is an interesting runner, it will be better suited at 1600M+ , that said he has sprinted well previously when fresh and will be strong late. The $23 is a fair bit longer than I have him priced.

Groundrush had support first up and goes well 2^nd up, throw it into your exotics, the $16 is juicy.

Sunset Dreaming wasn’t suited first up and is better suited around a bend, she’s a very handy mare on her day and can improve dramatically here.

No Bet

R4- A race of many chances and you could have 6 or 7 picks and still miss the winner.

Prince Eric is a horse that I like, and I think he is the best horse in the race. This fella had no luck last start and still produced very nice sectionals; he has raced very nicely 2^nd up also which we get here. Logan Bates is getting better with each ride and his 3kgs off will assist greatly.

Freight Train has undeniable ability and will run a race, his form profile has some extremely handy horses in it, I also love the booking of Micky Dee.

Carnival Row was a nice winner last start and is drawn to get a very soft run, he also has nice 3^rd up form.

In the Spring, Scheelite got very close to Warnie who would be short in the market if it were here, he can be hard to catch but if his best version turns up then its GSM.

The import Wonder Kid has obvious ability albeit tough to line up. The betting should tell if it’s a hope.

One with a better than $51 chance is Chihuly, watch for him late if they overdo it with speed in the first half of the race.

Backing #1 Prince Eric

R5- There is plenty to like about Landmark here. This 3yo colt has run some excellent 2^nd to the smart First Settler last prep and returned in a race at Sandown that wasn’t that suitable. The 1100M is a perfect fit, he will sit midfield in a lovely position from a handy barrier and gets in with no weight after the 3kg claim. Also worth noting that his only win was at this track.  I’m expecting him to unleash a powerful burst and finish over the top of them, at $12 he looks a fabulous bet.

His main danger is Sweethearted. After a freshen up he ran a mighty race is a harder grade at Flemington behind Alabama Lass, a repeat of that has him going very close, he is getting to a skinny price though now.

Minor chances to Scampi who has decent ability and The Showvinist who won well last start and is drawn to get a nice run.

Backing #11 Landmark

R6- Tatsumaki was outstanding when winning off a long break. He was a massive go in the betting that day suggesting that he was showing the Hayes team a heap of nice signs back at home. The slight query is the potential of a 2^nd up flat run, if there is no issue there then he just wins. Not that keen to be taking the $1.75 though so will probably stay out.

Harry Got Styles could prove difficult to beat, he won his only start when first up, has an excellent record at the track, is drawn to take up a forward position and the stable are going very well.

Port Albert and Veloce Carro are both capable types who at their best will be hard to hold out.

Not a race I’m overly excited by.

No Bet

R7- I’ve narrowed this race down to two main hopes and think we should back both to make a profit.

Zloties is marginally on top, she is drawn well, returned to the winners list last start, the 1400M suits perfectly and the Begg stable are airborne.

Her main danger is Wings Of Song, she is 5 weeks between runs and had a lovely little barrier trial on this track a fortnight ago to tune her right up for this. The Payne’s have a great success rate when applying this technique to their horses between runs. She wins 50% of her races, loves the 1400M, then slight query is the outside gate, hopefully he will tuck in back in the field and be produced for one run at them.

Others to consider for your quaddies are Electric Impulse, Poifect and Foxy Cleopatra who is better than a $41 chance and can pull out barnstorming run late. Her form against very good class gallopers in the Spring was below her best and her recent jump out suggested that is well behind her.

Backing #13 Zloties and #1 Wings Of Song

R8- This is a race I didn’t really like, many of the chances appear to be very close to each other, luck will play a big part in the result.

Ndola is on top, he looks very good on his day but needs the race to be run to suit him to show his best. If he gets those breaks, then he will go close to winning.

Somewhere has only had 2 starts and both of those showed he is a galloper of some note. The fact that they have saved him for the 1400M here fresh and in a classy race says that he is going very well and ready to run a big race.

Wonder Boy is a horse I like a lot; he was good in Sydney behind Lazura and returns here in search of that elusive 2^nd victory. He’s drawn a little sticky in barrier 9 but will be in the finish when they say halt.

Rue De Royale will peak here 3^rd up and must go in, he is a winner at his only visit to Bendigo.

No Bet

R9- How is Arran Bay $31??? He flies 2^nd up, loves the mile trip, the Stokes team are going gangbusters, and he draws a soft barrier. I understand his first up run wasn’t great, but he has never raced well on resuming and improves hugely after that run. At the price I’m prepared to see if that trend can continue.

Regal Zeus is his danger, he has drawn perfectly to roll to the lead in a race devoid of pace. If he gets the soft sectionals I’m seeing, then he will prove tough to run down. His record at the 1600M is solid too. I’m backing both horses here.

The ultra-consistent mare Smokin’ Princess, the talented Von Hauke, and the much-improved Enxuto, who is going for 5 on end, are others with hopes in a good race.

Backing #1 Arran Bay and #4 Regal Zeus

R10- We round out the day and I’m banking on Sunshineinmypocket providing just that in the shape of dollar dollar bills. He wasn’t that keen on the wet deck at Flemington last start, and I see him returning to the winners list on this good track where he has won 4 from 5 previous attempts.

Pivot City is the one he will have to beat to claim victory, he will get back in the field and need luck from barrier one, if the runs come then he has an explosive finishing burst.

Jabbawockeez can sprint well fresh and has good first up stats, he is better than a $23 hope especially if there are signs that the track is suiting ‘run on’ horses.

Other good chances to Marble Nine who is ready to peak now, and Proved, who is unbeaten from 5 starts and looks to keep her excellent record intact. She faces her stiffest test thus far, but Enver is a great horseman and places his horses perfectly.

Backing #13 Sunshineinmypocket

R1-5 best of the day

R5-11

R10-13

R4-1

R9-1 Best value play

R1-5xxx best of the day,3,4,1 not hopeless

R2-no bet- 2&3 raced, 9?? unraced, 6 imp?

R3-18,1,14,5

R4-1x value,11,6,12…2??,7 silly odds

R5-11xx,3….13,2

R6-3x,7,2,1

R7-backing 13x & 1…5,7,10 flukers hope

R8-4,7,3,9

R9-backing 1value & 4…10,5,8

R10-13xx,12,8,5,15

Best of luck if you’re playing.