This Friday Night sees one of the Biggest Country Cups of recent times courtesy of the appearance of one dog. The Southern Cross Ten Bendigo Cup hosts Australia’s premier greyhound Fernando Bale (pictured).
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Here is a runner by runner preview of the Bendigo Cup:
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1. MEPUNGA ARMAGH: A strong heat winner, he isn’t an overly fast beginner but with plenty of speed drawn on his immediate outside he might be able to get a nice run through on the first corner and if he can I think he is a sneaky place chance.
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2. BILLO’S PICK: This guy surprised many by holding off Melbourne Cup Champ Dyna Villa in his heat of the cup last week. A winner of 14 of 22 he is a rising star but this is certainly his toughest test. He has flying early pace but whether he can match it with Fernando Bale remains to be seen. Main danger to the favourite.
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3. FERNANDO BALE: Australia’s Premier Dog. A winner of 22 of 27, 14 in a row, four Group 1s…he has it all. Breaking Black Magic Opal’s track record in his heat win here last week only wets the appetite on how quickly he will go Friday night. He will bounce to the front and barring any accidents he will win, but he will be a very short priced favourite. When it’s all said and done he may go down as the greatest ever.
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4. BREATHING FIRE: An upset heat winner, he is the second of the Kel Greenough pair. This former NSW trained sprinter didn’t begin well in his heat but showed terrific acceleration in the middle part to find the lead, then just held off Group 1 winning bitch Lamia Bale. He isn’t drawn ideally so he will need plenty of luck but he is not without a chance.
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5. SHARED EQUITY: Another rising star here facing her biggest test. She was exceptional in her heat win, where she fired to lead and ran her rivals into the ground. Drawn awkwardly, she would need to begin at her top to have any chance of crossing Fernando Bale, but if she did she could certainly give it a shake. She certainly is a major player here.
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6. PAUA TO ROAR: This NSW trained sprinter scored an impressive win in his heat where he held off Azza Azza Azza, albeit in slow time. He probably has the task ahead from this draw, but he certainly can run into a placing with some luck.
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7. FEARLESS JOHN: Bounced back to his best in his heat last week scoring an upset win at massive odds. He showed good early speed there but from this wide box. I can’t see him getting over but now he is back in form he certainly is a must for your multiples.
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8. RONRAY SPIRIT: The country cups King. Racing in his fifth cup this year, he is chasing the $50K bonus after scoring in the Warragul and Warrnambool Cups. He just hung on in his cup heat and from the outside he probably doesn’t have the speed to cross. He definitely can’t be left out of exotics and it would be a fabulous story if he could prevail here.
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9. MARGINS (First reserve): Horsham Cup winner who was unlucky in his heat. He isn’t fast early but has a massive finish on him. If he gets a start and gets some luck he can run another terrific race.
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10. DYNA VILLA (Second reserve): Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, he hasn’t quite recaptured his very best since winning the Paws of Thunder at Wentworth Park in January but he couldn’t possibly be ignored if he was able to get a start here.
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SUMMARY: All things being equal Fernando Bale should win and win comfortably. Most eyes will be on him and the clock and whether he can lower his track record mark. As for the others I think the emerging star Billo’s Pick is his main danger. Mepunga Armagh, from the inside, can fill a place at odds and I give smaller chances to Shared Equity and the cups king, Ronray Spirit. It’s going to be one great race and if you can it will be worth getting to Lords Raceway in Bendigo to watch a champion do his thing. Here is the track record fun of Fernando Bale in his heat win.
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On a big night we have a couple of smaller features as well, the first of which is the GRV Vic Breeders Maiden Final (Race 5). It is definitely a wide open race but I was taken by the way Ring The Bell (6) finished off his semi last week. He didn’t have much luck in the first half of the race but hit the line behind Boloney Club (Replay). Drawn ok, he should get a cart over early and prove hard to hold out. His main danger is his semi-final nemesis Boloney Club (5), who has terrific early speed and can lead here. Other winning hopes in a tough race include Zachie Dude (1), Crave (4), who will be the value, Select Daniel (7), who has been impressive in the heat and semi and the very fast Argenta (8), who I’m not sure will cross but if she does she is a big hope.
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8:28pm: GRV VBIS Maiden Final (Race 5): Formguide
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Next up is the Ready to Race Bonus race where the top 8 prizemoney earners (scratchings excluded) from last year’s Ready to Race Auction sales do battle. Here I’m very keen onTo The Galo’s (1) from the inside. He has wonderful early speed and should be able to lead here, and if he does I can’t see them running him down. Main danger is Elbow Room (5), who probably isn’t drawn ideally but if he gets any luck he has a stack of ability and should be in the finish. Other chances to Sisco Wake (2), even though he is back in trip. If he can hold his place early he will be finishing strongly. Zelemar Storm (3). who won a nice race at Sandown two starts ago and Cut Loose Max (7) who is low flying at the moment is also a chance.
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8:49pm: Ready 2 Race Bonus (Race 6): Formguide
The last of the features is the Diamond Vision Photography Cup over the 660. Here I think the two greyhounds drawn out wide can run the quinella. Magic Earner (8) was the fastest heat winner and did it in dominant fashion too (Replay). Drawn to get clear running, which he didn’t get in his heat, he should lead here and prove the superior stayer. His main danger is Gorham Bale (7) who was heavily supported in his heat but he didn’t quite finish it off late. Other chances to Esparza (2), who will need luck early in the race, Mo Town San (4), who is drawn awkwardly in Box 4 and Alexis Kelton (5), who won her heat strongly but has a horror draw here. It should be a cracking race though. Here is the replay of Magic Earner’s heat win which featured Gorham Bale.
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9:08pm: Diamond Vision Photography Cup (Race 7): Formguide
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It’s going to be a special night and will be worth the price of admission and more. There will be plenty of activities trackside and should be a great night of racing. I hope this has helped you find a winner of two. Until next time Good luck and good punting.
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