Bendigo Wednesday 21 May

OVERVIEW: HOLD THAT MAGIC (5) commenced from the outside of the second line, settled a long way from the leaders and sustained a strong run when she finished third behind WALLIS (11) last week. She has been placed at her past three attempts and is much better drawn for this assignment so she must be considered as a winning chance. BULLAPARK BENO (13) has been trotting in good form and is capable of overcoming the poor draw. He was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off boldly when third at Maryborough last outing. AMOUR MATERNAL (2) finished off strongly when an eye-catching second behind Mont Sally at Ballarat last outing. She lacks early dash but is capable of showing up without surprising. MAJIC VALLEY (4) hasn’t started since competing in a Super Series Silver event back in September but she would have benefited from two recent trial performances and has the speed to feature prominently.

SELECTIONS: HOLD THAT MAGIC (5), BULLAPARK BENO (13), AMOUR MATERNAL (2), MAJIC VALLEY (4)

SUGGESTED BET: HOLD THAT MAGIC (5) each way

OVERVIEW: MAGIC LAW (3) is a fast beginner and usually adopts the tactic of leading out then taking cover. She trailed behind CHRISTMAS BABE (5), was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off well when a handy second behind Wallis at Shepparton last outing. BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (4) settled three back on the markers, angled wide on the home turn and finished off quickly to defeat Floating Mountain at Melton last outing. This race is no harder so she must be considered as a winning chance again. AGAINST THE BRIDLE (11) is shooting for a hat trick after successive victories at Bendigo and Melton. He is versatile and will be suited if there is a genuine tempo in the early stages so he is capable of completing the task. The fast beginners CHRISTMAS BABE (6) and BILLY ZIPPIN (7) are both worth thought in an open betting event.

SELECTIONS: MAGIC LAW (3), BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (4), AGAINST THE BRIDLE (11), CHRISTMAS BABE (6)

SUGGESTED BET: MAGIC LAW (3) each way

OVERVIEW: SHAQ (6) will appreciate a drop back in class for this assignment and should prove very hard to beat. He endured a tough run and went down fighting when third in a slick mile rate of 1.54.5 at Bendigo three starts ago and was a big winner on April 02. LORIMERMAJOR (4) commenced from the inside of the second line and was shuffled back on the markers when he had little luck in obtaining a clear run at his latest tenth. He scored in a mile rate of 1.55.5 at Bendigo prior and he looms as one of the leading chances again. MISTER JIMARINGLE (8) is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second line but he appears to be well graded in this event and he should be finishing off strongly. SHARP INTEREST (10) was heavily supported when she was resuming at Ararat but she lost her chance after galloping early. She has ability and is worth another chance. 

SELECTIONS: SHAQ (6), LORIMERMAJOR (4), MISTER JIMARINGLE (8), SHARP INTEREST (10)

SUGGESTED BET: SHAQ (6) to win

OVERVIEW: HEAVENS GIFT (5) showed brilliant gate speed to lead and ran along at a genuine tempo when she won clearly at Bendigo last outing. She is likely to find the lead again and will take catching. SASSY GABBY (1) led throughout from the pole position at Cobram on March 24 and hasn’t had much luck in three starts since. She is drawn to receive every chance and is capable of improving on her numerical form. LOU WILL (6) met a very strong field last outing and is likely to find this assignment to be more suitable. He won at Swan Hill three starts ago and has the early speed to find a prominent position. IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (2) did extremely well to finish as close as she did after racing out three hoses wide for the entire trip at Bendigo last week so she rates as a value hope.

SELECTIONS: HEAVENS GIFT (5), SASSY GABBY (1), LOU WILL (6), IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (2)

SUGGESTED BET: HEAVENS GIFT (5) to win

OVERVIEW: SONORA SUNSET (6) was inconvenienced on the first turn and settled midfield when a handy third behind Flaming Mel at Ouyen when on debut. She showed good gate speed to lead early at her trial performance prior so a forward showing is expected here. SAVON DE ROCHE (2) ran a better race last week when she led out then took cover and missed out narrowly behind Maxbeca. She is drawn to adopt similar tactics here so she must be considered a winning chance. AMERICAN ASSASSIN (8) is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second line but he has done well in his two starts to date and should be competitive if he gains normal luck in running. MASTER MIKI (9) finished third behind Dieing Fear at Shepparton two starts ago and is not without a chance under these conditions.

SELECTIONS: SONORA SUNSET (6), SAVON DE ROCHE (2), AMERICAN ASSASSIN (8), MASTER MIKI (9)

SUGGESTED BET: SONORA SUNSET (6) to win

OVERVIEW: UNCLE TREV (3) hasn’t raced since a very impressive win at Bendigo back in February 2024. He was runner up at a recent Shepparton trial performance and if he reproduces his debut performance, he will prove hard to beat again. YANKEE CAPTAIN (7) began quickly to lead and dominated his rivals at Shepparton last outing. He has returned from a spell in peak form and is worth thought again. TIVOLI (4) hasn’t been at her best form in three starts since resuming but she was placed in the Homegrown Classic last season so she cannot be left out of calculations. OWEN THE SAINTS (1), MAXBECA (5) and WICKED MITZI (6) are all worth thought in multiple combinations.

SELECTIONS: UNCLE TREV (3), TIVOLI (4), YANKEE CAPTAIN (7), OWEN THE SAINTS (1)

SUGGESTED BET: UNCLE TREV (3) each way

OVERVIEW: LINK IN BIO (6) was resuming since October when she finished off nicely for third behind Tictok at Bendigo. She appeared to have her chance last outing but the time was fast and she was competing at Metropolitan level so she appears to be better placed in this event. ROYAL CHARLOTTE (8) has been runner up at her past two attempts and she hit the line strongly at Cranbourne last time so she is working back to her peak form. QUAKE PROOF (7) was beaten by a long way when he was resuming but he has performed nicely at the trials and he is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward. DOSSIER (3) is stepping up in class but she has been racing consistently and is worth an investment.

SELECTIONS: LINK IN BIO (6), ROYAL CHARLOTTE (8), QUAKE PROOF (7), DOSSIER (3)

SUGGESTED BET: LINK IN BIO (6) each way

OVERVIEW: ZESTA LA GO GO (2) is resuming since a third at Birchip on March 09 and makes his debut for trainer Michelle Eastman. He was a distant second behind the smart 3yo trotter Mecarno at a recent Maryborough trial assignment and he strikes a suitable assignment first up. COL DU GRANON (3) appeared to have his chance when third behind Azalea Mae at Kilmore last outing but he is usually competitive against this class and is drawn to go well. MYSTERIOUS PRINCE (1) gained the perfect trail behind the leader and missed out narrowly at his latest third. He is drawn to receive a similar trail so he is worth a ticket each way. DOUBLE DOT (5) began quickly but couldn’t find a position early and didn’t have much luck when ninth at Bendigo last outing. She is a possible improver and CHAMPAGNES (8) is a minor place chance from her trailing draw.

SELECTIONS: ZESTA LA GO GO (2), COL DU GRANON (3), MYSTERIOUS PRINCE (1), DOUBLE DOT (5)

SUGGESTED BET: ZESTA LA GO GO (2) each way