Sunday Evening we head to central Victoria for eight wonderful heats of the Southern Cross Ten Bendigo Cup. Some high quality heats have been assembled but certainly the headline act is Australia’s champion dog Fernando Bale, who is looking to make it 14 straight.
We kick things off we a terrific race where Elfen Bale (6) and Azza Azza Azza do battle in heat 1. Elfen Bale, fresh off a placing behind Fernando Bale in the Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park last start, takes on Shepparton Cup winner Azza Azza Azza (Replay), who hasn’t raced since finishing down the track in a Horsham Cup heat. The race will be decided at the first turn and if Azza can get over he will be very hard to beat. Other small hopes to Paua To Roar (2) and Lunar Eclipse (4).
Over to Heat 2 and we see another two-dog race between Caustic Bale (2) and Allen Deed (8). I really like the hopes here of Allen Deed, who looks terrifically suited drawn the outside and was a certainty beaten recently in the Horsham Cup. Could this be his crowning race? He looks one of the standout bets on the night for mine. Caustic Bale isn’t a fast beginner but he has a devastating finish. If Allen Deed finds any trouble then this guy can certainly figure. Smallish chances to Senor Gold (5), local hope Gaelic Peter (6) and Estranged (7).
Heat 3 looks a nice race for Melbourne Cup champion Dyna Villa (6), who looks to have bounced back to somewhere near his best form at his last two starts and he possesses cracking early pace. Now with Andrea Dailly, he should be able to lead here and take plenty of catching. His danger is the rising star Billo’s Pick (7), who has won 13 of 21 and is a flying machine. He draws to follow over outside Dyna Villa and they look the clear top two. A smaller chance to country short course specialist, Bills Back (3).
On to Heat 4 and this looks one of the tougher heats on the program. Most eyes and cheers will be focused in on Country Cups King, Luca Neveelk (4). His form prior to a short break just halted slightly but if he can get back to his brilliant best he should win this and he does have a habit of saving his best for big country cups. I thought from Box 1 Lektra Utopia has a wonderful chance here at good odds. Drawn to be the leader he can give this a big shake. Next best are Spring Missile (2) and Shared Equity (7), but it’s a race where any one of 5 or 6 could win without surprising.
Next up is Heat 5 and this looks a fantastic race. I like the chances of Dewana Result (1), provided he can get some luck early which I think he can. He doesn’t jump well but he has brilliant acceleration if he gets room and with Light Em Up not a hard railer he might get some air to charge through early. If he finds the front midrace they won’t run him down. Main danger is Lamia Bale (3), a Group 1 winner of the Sapphire Crown six starts ago. She has class on her side. Next best is the flying Shared Bonus (7), who is low flying at present and made the Horsham Cup final earlier this month. Next best is Light Em Up (2).
On to Race 6 and this is the heat that will garner all Greyhound Racing fans’ attention as we see this megastar dog Fernando Bale strut his stuff. Drawn Box 1, if his recent form is anything to go by he will lead and win. He has won 21 of 26, 13 in a row, four Group 1s…the list rolls on. He is a champion and could give the track record a real shake. If something illogical happened and he got beat, well I think Our Zayney Nash (6) can be the one to do that. He went good at Shepparton last Monday night and has fast early pace. He can certainly fill the trifecta. Small mention also to West On Delly (8), but just watch Fernando fly, as he did in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic (Replay).
The next heat is Race 7, and I think Ronray Spirit (pictured), who is two thirds of the way from claiming the $50K Triple Country Cups Bonus, which goes to greyhounds that can win three Victorian country cups in a calendar year. He went really well in the Horsham Cup, where he had absolutely no luck at all from Box 4. He should work his way forward and will be hard to beat. I think he is one of the bets of the card. Danger is the winner of that Horsham Cup in Margins (5). He is drawn awkwardly as he doesn’t have much pace early, but he has a strong finish and only needs clear air to launch home late. Other chances to Schumacher (2), Tammy Baxter (6) and Ultima Bale (8), who was a Horsham Cup finalist as well.
Last but not least is the final heat and the last chance for the winner to qualify for Friday’s final. This clearly is the toughest heat of the night and I’m going to look for some value. I think Reckless Brown (2) can figure prominently here. He was well supported at Shepp last Monday night but had little luck at the first corner in the race won by Berserk. With a better beginning he can lead and give it a real good shake. Danger is Amaro Bale (3), who ran a nice race in a Horsham Cup heat behind Allen Deed. Other chances to Dyna Nico (1), who is perfectly drawn, Mepunga Armagh (5), then the two drawn the outside, Gaucho (7) and Berserk (8). With heaps of speed drawn inside them, I’m not sure they can get over and if that is the case they may find it hard winning but if they do they both have undeniable chances. Incidentally, Berserk beat Reckless Brown last Monday night at Shepparton (Replay).
It looks a wonderful night of racing and if the top seeds do win through to the final it is going to be one of the greatest country cups finals we have ever seen. I hope this has helped steer you into a winner or two. Good Luck and Good Punting.
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Bendigo Sunday Formguide: Click Here
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Watch: Allen Deed (2) flies home to run second in the recent Horsham Cup and Matt Jackson expects him to take a power of beating in his Bendigo Cup heat.
