Tim O’Connor has cast his eye across the Wednesday night card at Bendigo.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Wide-open race to start the card at Bendigo, where the trotters battle it out over the 1650m trip. And while it’s a horror draw over the sprint, I’m with KYVALLEY MICHAEL (12) in the opener. I loved his run last time out when he made an early mistake, tacked on and still finished fifth behind The Priestess at Melton on April 10. To add further merit to his effort, the first four placegetters all raced along the pegs with KYVALLEY MICHAEL (12) forced to come wide in the last lap. RUN FOREST RUN (5) is among the fast beginners and can certainly win, WITH APLOMB (6) has put it all together her last two to win impressively but this is a step-up in class, while LOVE YA BROTHER (9) is a lightly-raced and talented type from the Mattie Craven yard who has trialled well for this first-up assignment and has the ability to figure. Others can win, including the handy IM HAVINTOTROT (7).
SELECTIONS: KYVALLEY MICHAEL (12), RUN FOREST RUN (5), WITH APLOMB (6), LOVE YA BROTHER (9)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Two heats of this series at Maryborough on April 10 and April 20, and the best run across both of them in my mind came from PASTOR DUNBAR (5). He ultimately finished second behind CHANTILLY LASS (12), but made an early break, was caught wide on the track and then charged late to just miss with a big margin back to third. His first-up win was dominant prior to that and a faultless trotting display here will have him awfully hard to beat. ZOOLU (7) gave D’Arne Bellman her first training winner in more than 5600 days when she won the other of the heats on April 20, but he has a tough gate here. TIMMY WHIZ (1) was a good third in that race behind ZOOLU (7) and draws for a good trip, STEPBYSTEP (9) sustained a three-wide run for the last lap and was brave in defeat there, while CHANTILLY LASS (12) sat parked and was too strong in that qualifier on April 10 and has claims again.
BACK: PASTOR DUNBAR (5) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: PASTOR DUNBAR (5), TIMMY WHIZ (1), STEPBYSTEP (9), CHANTILLY LASS (12)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: YA BOTTOM DOLLAR (6) is racing in great form without winning, but strikes a suitable assignment here despite a wide gate. Rodney Petroff’s gelding has run a number of good races lately, including a third placing behind smart Emma Stewart pacer Most Exciting at Cranbourne and another third in very slick time behind talented pair Keayang Sweetheart and Wicked Confession at Bendigo. Keen he goes close in this. The lightly-raced three-year-old AFFAMATO (7) looked really good winning at the Ballarat trials ahead of his first-up assignment, while SHAQ (8) is a veteran of 231 career starts and might get a lovely trip in behind likely early leader ASMILEANDAWINX (1), who can figure from the pole draw over the sprint trip.
BACK: YA BOTTOM DOLLAR (6) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: YA BOTTOM DOLLAR (6), AFFAMATO (7), SHAQ (8), ASMILEANDAWINX (1)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: MAJOR BLITZ (1) lines up for his first start as a three-year-old and trialled sensationally at Ballarat for his return. There, he easily accounted for handy stablemate Hungry Hippo in a slick last half and brings some top juvenile form to the table from 2025. He is expected to lead and win. RABADA (8) looks to get the nice trail on the favourite’s back and ran a really good second behind Lougle at Bendigo two back, while NUGGET ROGERS (10) and WHERE IS WOODY (6) should both be getting home strongly and are musts for trifectas and First 4s.
BACK: MAJOR BLITZ (1) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: MAJOR BLITZ (1), RABADA (8), NUGGET ROGERS (10), WHERE IS WOODY (6)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Tricky race for the trotting mares where I’m gravitating to the class horse of the field based on ratings and that’s FROSTY GIRL (10). She scooted up the inside for fourth last time out at Kilmore, which followed cup races at Birchip and Boort where she was well beaten. By no means a moral, but think she’s worth a play on the each-way if she ends up a decent price. PARIS JAMILLA (9) and KISS AT MIDNIGHT (5) both made mistakes in the same race at Ballarat last time but have claims based on prior form, while WAIKARE ADRIENNA (3) heads the other chances after two brave runner-up placings when she has been caught in the death and only grabbed late.
SELECTIONS: FROSTY GIRL (10), PARIS JAMILLA (9), WAIKARE ADRIENNA (3), KISS AT MIDNIGHT (5)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: A two-year-old pacing contest following heats at Maryborough on April 10 and 20 where Emma Stewart runners prevailed in both. With CARDIGAN MAJOR (6) out scratched for the final, that leaves CARDIGAN JEM (1) as top pick. He led and cruised to victory under little driving to win the first of the qualifiers and draws well here in gate one. There were a couple of super efforts in the second heat by FARROH JOE (2) and KINGS GALLERY (9). FARROH JOE (2) sat parked in a fast mile rate of 1.53.5 and only tired late to be beaten into third by the fast-finishing KINGS GALLERY (9), who carved out the best final quarters of the race to rattle into second. They look the three winning hopes.
SELECTIONS: CARDIGAN JEM (1), FARROH JOE (2), KINGS GALLERY (9), LOUS MAMBO (3)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: This is a two-year-old trotting contest following heats at Maryborough on April 10 and 20, with REGAL GALA (4) taking the first and ZIPPIN PAST (2) the second. REGAL GALA (4) showed speed to lead and held off ORLANDO VEYRON (3), who was a very gutsy run in second from the chair. He might be able to get down to the fence on this occasion given the barrier draw advantage and would be hard to beat if that was the case. REGAL GALA (4) has obvious claims after his heat win, ZIPPIN PAST (2) won the second of the qualifiers after finding the front and TRUE APLOMB (10) made a mistake there, but had trialled well twice beforehand and must be given another chance.
SELECTIONS: ORLANDO VEYRON (3), REGAL GALA (4), ZIPPIN PAST (2), TRUE APLOMB (10)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: MANFREDI (9) gets his chance for a breakthrough win at start 11 in this maiden clash where there’s not a great deal of form to get excited about. He was dragged out of the race by a tiring rival last time at Maryborough, but his prior form was thereabouts and he gets the nice back row draw here. JUST LIKE NUGGET (3) finished third and JANSEN (4) second in a race six of these horses contested last week at Bendigo and they look major players, while TALISKER SKIPPER (8) wasn’t too bad from way back first-up from a mammoth break at Shepparton on April 14 and wouldn’t completely shock.
BACK: MANFREDI (9) – 1 unit (win)
SELECTIONS: MANFREDI (9), JUST LIKE NUGGET (3), JANSEN (4), TALISKER SKIPPER (8)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R2 #5 PASTOR DUNBAR – 3 units (win)
R3 #6 YA BOTTOM DOLLAR – 3 units (win)
R4 #1 MAJOR BLITZ – 3 units (win)
R8 #9 MANFREDI – 1 unit (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
5,6,7,9,12/1,5/6,7,8/1
QUADDIE
3,5,6,8,9,10/1,2,9/2,3,4,10/3,4,8,9
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
** A betting unit is typically a percentage of the total bankroll or the amount of money you are willing to risk on a particular bet – for example 1 unit is 10% of your bankroll, therefore a $100 bankroll 1 unit equals $10
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
