A very competitive nine-race programme is scheduled for Bendigo on Tuesday. The best bet is KAPLUMPICH who runs in the last race on the card.
Other international tips – Tuesday
Rockhampton
Kemba Grange
Will Rogers Downs
Bendigo
Neil Morrice Tips
He took on much stronger company in his last start before the break and won his penultimate race in today’s class. He does not meet the strongest company and should be too good this afternoon.
Best Bet: KAPLUMPICH (Race 9)
Value Bet: ANYTHING BUT (Race 6)
Race 1
Only two of the fourteen runners in this Maiden Plate for 2-year olds have run before. The betting market will be the best guide with regards to the chances of the horses in this event. THE BILLIONAIRE is an unraced son of Written Tycoon from the Anthony Freedman stable. He has not barrier trialled leading into this race, but if not too green may be the right one with Mark Zahra in the saddle. ON THE PROGRAM is a New Zealand bred son of Sacred Falls from the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young yard. He too has not barrier trialled before today, but it is encouraging that Beau Mertens does duty and the pair could be involved in the finish if not in need of the run.
Race 2
This is another race where the betting market will be the best guide as the majority of the runners are unraced juveniles. DUBAWI PRINCE is an unraced son of Pride of Dubai from the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young yard. He has not had a barrier trial before today’s race, but he gets the services of capable rider Mark Zahra who could notch up a quick early double on today’s card. ZOU DANCER is a filly taking on the boys and she is a daughter of Investigates from the Tony McEvoy stable. She too has not had any barrier trials coming into this race, but an interesting statistic is that jockey Jamie Kah has a 27%-win strike rate for this trainer.
Race 3
This is the first competitive race on the card and caution is advised. The narrow first selection is MISS HAYWORTH from the Michael Moroney stable. She finished third on debut and followed that up with a creditable second place finish next time out. She has been rested for 21 weeks since her last outing, during which time she would have strengthened up. If not in need of the run, she may be the one they all have to beat here. HIGH FASHION is an unraced daughter of Animal Kingdom from the Wendy Kelly stable. She has had one fair barrier trial before this race and the big plus is that she gets the services of top jockey Damien Oliver. The betting market will be the best guide with regards to her chances.
Race 4
HERNANDEZ has not finished too far behind the winner in recent outings. He raced three wide in his last run over this distance, but managed to finish his race off nicely despite laying in up the straight. He has placed in both his efforts over the mile and may be the one they all have to beat if keeping on a straight line. GINGERSON is still a maiden after eleven runs, but he has not been too far behind the winner in recent starts. He moved up well in his last outing, but the winner was too good on the day. He has finished second twice from three starts over today’s trip and he could be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top choice.
Race 5
FIORENA is a filly taking on the males and her last two starts have been decent. She was her own worst enemy last time as she didn’t settle in the middle stages of the race. She is trying the twelve furlongs for the first time which she is bred to enjoy. If Daniel Stackhouse is able to switch her off early, the pair may find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. DEPENDABILITY is another filly taking on the males. She stayed on well at the business end of her last start over ten furlongs. It must be noted that two horses from that formline have come out and won since. The manner in which she races suggests that today’s distance should be right up her alley and she should be involved in the run down to the finishing post.
Race 6
ANYTHING BUT is the value bet on today’s card. He was just beaten in his last two starts over 2000m and 2233m respectively. He moved up well in his last start but was outrun in the dying stages of the race. He should enjoy the rise in distance today and from his wide draw, he is likely to be slotted in at the back of the field early and made to do his best work up the straight. HEY HAPPY was a winner of his last two starts. He beat the top selection in his last start by 0.3 lengths. Now 2kgs worse off at the weights today, that should be enough for the tables to be turned. Another concern is his wide barrier position, but he cannot be ignored as he is in a very good run of form.
Race 7
NERONE followed up his maiden victory with a decent effort over six furlongs at Moonee Valley last time. He settled three deep in a mid-field position and finished his race off strongly. It must be noted that the form of that race has been franked. He is having his second run after a rest today and should strip a much fitter horse. He returns to his favourite course and distance and should be the one to side with here. EVENING GLORY’S last effort before the much needed 14-week break was fair. His penultimate run when finishing second at Flemington over seven furlongs catches the eye. If repeating that effort and if not in need of the run, he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.
Race 8
The penultimate event on today’s programme is very competitive. The narrow first choice is NOVA WAY from the Austy Coffey stable. He has very good consistent form to his name and has won his last two starts over this distance at Swan Hill. Apprentice Jaden Lloyd will take the 3kgs off his back and he merits respect as he bids to notch up a hat-trick of wins. CAPE RICHARDS has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He has a good record over today’s distance with two wins, a second and two third-place finishes from six outings. He will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his apprentice claim and he should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.
Race 9
KAPLUMPICH is the best bet on today’s card. He has good consistent form to his name and wasn’t disgraced when taking on stronger at Flemington in his last start. He has been rested since that effort and takes a drop in distance, which shouldn’t be a concern as he has placed over the trip in the past. This is not the strongest field and if fit and well, he should take a power of beating. TYCOON ROXY is a mare taking on the males and she is plagued with issues. Her last run can be ignored as she had no clear run up the straight. She now returns from a lengthy 31-week break, but that is not much of a concern as she has won once and finished third once from three starts when first up. John Keating takes the ride and the pair cannot be ignored.
