Feature racing heads to Bendigo this Saturday with the Listed Golden Mile set to headline an exciting ten race card.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The Listed Bendigo Guineas will also be run and won along with the $250k VOBIS Gold Rush for the two year olds.
The rail will be in the true position and the track is currently rated a good 4.
Our Ladbrokes preview can be found below.
RACE 1 - 12:05PM: CARLTON DRAUGHT BM78 HANDICAP (2400 METRES)
Nordic Pride strips fitter for the two recent runs and looks ready to peak at his third start back.
The seven year old just looked in need of the outing when resuming over 2000m in the Wangaratta Cup and he obviously took plenty of benefit from it, as he then hit the line hard over 2100m at Wyong to just miss.
A winner of nine races, the Zoffany gelding is very honest and will relish the rise in trip.
From barrier five he's drawn to get every chance under Jye McNeil who takes the mount for Ben Brisbourne.
1 unit – NORDIC PRIDE
RACE 2 - 12:35PM: APIAM ANIMAL HEALTH VOBIS GOLD RUSH 2YO SW (1000 METRES)
Bold Bastille comes here off back to back stakes wins and looks well placed to continue on her winning way.
The class runner in the race, the daughter of Brazen Beau kicked off her career in fine style by recording a three length victory on debut in the Inglis Nursery before heading for a break.
She failed to figure in the finish when resuming but had genuine excuses and bounced back to her best to then take out the Listed Festival Stakes and Redoute's Choice Stakes.
Barrier three will see her jump straight to the lead and she'll take some catching.
With regular ride Mark Zahra in Sydney, Luke Currie will take the mount for team Hayes.
3 units – BOLD BASTILLE
RACE 3 - 1:10PM: SMARTLOANS BENDIGO BM70 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
Girl is racing in good form and will appreciate the drop back in grade.
The Zoustar mare resumed with a commanding win over 1200m at Ballarat before making it two on the trot as she proved too strong around the Valley.
Last start she was solid to the line over 1100m down the Flemington straight behind some very handy mares and she looks well placed here back to BM70 grade.
She has performed well in all three runs over the 1300m and team Corstens have elected to claim, securing Jaylah Kennedy to do the steering and take 3kgs off.
1 unit – GIRL
RACE 4 - 1:45PM: IMMIX, METAL RECYCLED RIGHT BM70 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Letsbefrankbaby caught the eye when resuming over 1500m on the Caulfield Heath, where under the 63kg impost, the daughter of Frankel charged home into fourth from the rear.
The four year old has showed plenty of talent throughout her eleven start career, with solid performances at Group level including a win in the Group Three SA Fillies Classic.
With the big weight and the wide gate, she does have a big task ahead but she's a class mare and with a fairly even weight spread, she doesn't look out of her depth.
Jamie Mott has partnered her to three of her four wins and he'll again take the reins for Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock.
1 unit – LETSBEFRANKBABY
RACE 5 - 2:20PM: BALGOWNIE ESTATE BENDIGO 3YO HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Skybird resumes.
The Exosphere filly put the writing on the wall in the spring, kicking off her career with three successive victories including the Group Two Moonee Valley Fillies Classic before a solid effort to finish third in the Group One Caulfield Guineas.
Given a good break, she comes here off one public trial which saw her working home strongly over 850m.
She does have to lump the big weight but over the 1100m it shouldn't prove too much of a hindrance.
Beau Mertens has built a great association with the filly, having partnered her to all four raceday appearances and he remains in the saddle.
1 unit – SKYBIRD
RACE 6 - 2:55PM: OFF THE TRACK BM84 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Garza Blanca resumed with a very encouraging effort in a BM94 at Kembla Grange four weeks ago.
Settling outside the leader, the I Am Invincible entire showed a strong kick in the straight to take the lead but was just collared in the shadows of the post.
He will have taken good improvement from the run and is unbeaten in two second up outings.
Now a four year old, he's performed well against quality opposition and still holds the 1200m Cranbourne track record, so he's certainly not lacking when it comes to ability.
Jamie Mott goes on for Ciaron Maher and he's set to receive every chance from the good draw.
1 unit – GARZA BLANCA
RACE 7 - 3:35PM: CATANACH'S JEWELLERS BENDIGO GOLD BRACELET MARES (1400 METRES)
Papillon Club returned in fine form when kicking off her campaign over 1200m at Moonee Valley late last month.
She travelled strongly in the middle of the pack and was doing her best work late as she charged home into second.
The rise to 1400m will suit and she has won second up previously.
A daughter of Toronado, she showed plenty of natural talent early on and was successful in the Group Three Alexandra Stakes in March of last year.
Sent for a break she returned in the Spring but just didn't seem to be at her best but she looks to have come back in top order this time in and with any luck from the draw, she should be right in this.
1 unit – PAPILLON CLUB
RACE 8 - 4:15PM: RSN 945AM BENDIGO GUINEAS 3YO LISTED (1400 METRES)
Sunshineinmypocket has taken all before him since making his debut in February.
The Proisir gelding kicked off his career over the 1200m at Ballarat and the form out of that race has proven to be solid with the runner up going on to win her next two starts by a combined margin of 12.5 lengths.
At his second outing he charged home strongly from the back to score on the Hillside and then went on to salute on the Lakeside over 1400m.
Whilst he hasn't won by big margins, he does everything right and in all three outings he has shown great determination to get the job done.
From barrier four he's set to receive all the favours under Johnny Allen who stays onboard for Ciaron Maher.
1 unit – SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET
RACE 9 - 4:50PM: BET365 GOLDEN MILE LISTED (1600 METRES)
Foxy Frida coms off a solid run in the Group One Coolmore Classic and should certainly find this easier.
From the wide gate the Foxwedge mare drifted back to the tail and charged home through the field over the final part, to finish just over three lengths off Zougotcha.
Her first up run prior to that also saw her doing her best work late over 1400m in the Group Three Tressady Stakes.
With the two runs under her belt, she looks ready to peak and the rise to the mile will suit.
She boasts a terrific record at this track having taken out the last two editions of the Gold Bracelet and Billy will again do the steering.
2 units – FOXY FRIDA
RACE 10 - 5:25PM: FILKEL BM84 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Chorlton Lane returns to the races.
After kicking off his career in Great Britain the Irish bred gelding didn't take long to make an impression here, saluting at Rosehill in his first Australian start.
He's since recoded a further two victories and has been placed on three occasions and he looks to have plenty more in store.
Prepared by Ciaron Maher, he comes here off two recent trials and a 1200m jump out win where he looked to be doing it very easily.
Ethan Brown is riding in terrific form and he goes onboard for the first time.
1 unit – CHORLTON LANE
