The Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) will be run and won on Wednesday with a capacity field of stayers lining up to grab a share in the $400,000 prize-fund.
Early betting suggests this is a four-horse race between Lord Belvedere, Pondus, Zebrowski and Saracen Knight, meaning we should be in for a quality contest with several hopefuls eyeing either the Melbourne Cup or further country cups later in the Spring.
To help you out, we’ve cast our eye over each and every runner in our 2020 Bendigo Cup Tips Preview below.
Haky
Haky has struggled to return the same form that saw him win at Flemington back in April.
Archie Alexander’s seven-year-old has finished no better than ninth in his three runs back from a spell and is coming off a disappointing performance when 11 of 15 last start in the Group 3 Bart Cummings.
He might appreciate the slight step back in trip but won’t find this any easier.
Lord Belvedere
Lord Belvedere saw his three-race winning streak come to an end last start at Flemington when eighth in the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2510m).
Ben Melham ran into traffic down the straight in what was a total forgive run and never really found a gap behind the winner Persan.
The Maher and Eustace-trained seven-year-old should strip fitter for that run and has won third-up previously, while the in-form Mark Zahra on board can only be seen as a bonus.
Pondus
Pondus is making his Australian debut and has been freshened coming off a disappointing last start in the Ebor Handicap at York.
Trainer Joseph O’Brien seems to have a high opinion of the five-year-old and it is hard to disagree based on the fact he’s won previously over the same trip.
O’Brien originally planned to run Pondus in the Geelong Cup and will be hoping to see plenty of improvement with the British raider nominated for next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
Inverloch
Inverloch is racing on the short backup after finishing second to Irish Flame last Friday over the 2040m at Moonee Valley.
He’d probably appreciate some sting out of the track but does rate as a decent each-way chance after winning the Listed Easter Cup on the short backup at Caulfield earlier in April.
Azuro
Azuro strips fitter for his last start when sixth to Fun Fact in the St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick.
The French raider does some of his best racing on top of the ground and is a much better place chance than the current market price suggests.
Zebrowski
Zebrowski is looking to reward punters for their loyalty following a last start second behind Chapada in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.
The son of Savabeel was competitive at Group 1 level during the Autumn running second behind Quick Thinker over the same trip in the ATC Derby and will be afforded every opportunity to add another win to his name under William Pike.
This looks a much easier contest for the Hawkes-trained gelding and there is no doubt that he will come close.
Furrion
Furrion has struggled to find the same form that saw him take out the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) back in May.
The son of Camelot has failed to come close to the money in his three runs back from a spell and appears tested at this level.
Princess Jenni
Princess Jenni had excuses in her last start when seven of eight in the Group 3 Coongy Cup after racing three-wide without cover.
Before that, the New Zealand galloper finished fifth in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes behind Mystic Journey at The Valley, but she does look a query here having her first run beyond the 2000m.
Silent Command
Silent Command won the Listed Coleraine Cup (1800m) two starts back and was far from disgraced when fifth in the Moe Cup (2050m) a fortnight ago at 31-1.
This remains a significant rise in grade for the six-year-old though and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to watch him struggle.
Midterm
Midterm has struggled at Listed level since returning to the races missing out on the top ten in the Cranbourne Cup before an equally disappointing result in the Moe Cup a fortnight ago.
The British raider has won previously over this distance but looks tested here rising in grade.
Good Idea
Good Idea returns to Group level after finding no luck two runs back in the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2510m) at Flemington.
The son of So You Think rebounded nicely to find the money behind Yonkers in a Benchmark 84 at Caulfield a fortnight ago and is more than capable of figuring here if Michael Poy can tuck in just off the speed.
Masaff
Masaff has found the money only twice in seven starts since venturing to Australia and is likely to find this tougher rising in grade.
Saracen Knight
Saracen Knight beat home Irish Flame two runs back at Caulfield before a disappointing effort over further in his last start.
That may have been the run he needed between starts however, and it is no surprise to find the six-year-old drawing some strong early support.
The son of Camelot won’t know himself getting 3kg off from his last start and will be afforded every opportunity with Damien Oliver booked to ride.
Super Girl
Super Girl is a two-time winner over this track and distance and rates as a decent each-way bet at odds.
The mare by So You Think found the line well for third in her last start at Caulfield and is more than capable of taking that improvement into a race of this quality.
She’s yet to show much at this level, but this does look the right race for her on her home track.
Jack Regan
Jack Regan won back-to-back starts at Sandown over this trip during the Autumn but has struggled to find that same form since.
The Busuttin and Young galloper has failed to come close to the money in each of his last six runs and is tough to have here.
Realm Of Flowers
Realm Of Flowers won the Group 3 South Australian Classic (2500m) at Morphettville back in May but has struggled since venturing to Melbourne.
The mare out of So You Think finished slowly in her last start at Cranbourne among easier company and is predicted to struggle alongside some of these.
Red Alto
Red Alto hasn’t come close to the winner’s circle since his boil over victory in this same race two years ago under Michael Walker and remains the first emergency ahead of Wednesday’s race.
Lofty Heights
Lofty Heights is a two-time winner over this trip and has placed in both runs at this track.
The six-year-old son of High Chaparral remains the second emergency.
Bendigo Cup Tip
7 Furrion at $21.00
