Bendigo
Race 6 – Pannier
Jockey – John Allen
2200m – Barrier 9
Tavistock gelding Pannier rises in trip and drops in class for today’s contest at Bendigo. The four-year-old galloper began his preparation with three good runs before being just okay at his past couple – albeit with excuses – and looks suited back to this grade this afternoon. Jockey John Allen leaves from gate nine and can look to find cover midfield or worse in the early parts.
Speed has drawn the inside with Jayrod Too and Gunnafly to punch forward early, while Myers Reward and Max Mercury can be thereabouts in a race that doesn’t look to have a heap of early dash. Myers Reward has been good at both runs this time in and presents fitter third-up today. He was caught wide for the first half of the race at Benalla last time out and just couldn’t reel in the winner, who enjoyed a soft run up on speed. He’s drawn awkwardly again but with even luck, he looks the one to beat. Max Mercury comes right back in grade for this, having finished five lengths astern of Roaring Engine at Sandown last start. That galloper ran fifth in the Adelaide Cup on Monday, and he gets in well after the apprentice claim here. Must be considered. Each way chance to Theodor who is third-up after two sound runs, and Seasons In De Sun, who fits a similar profile.
Pannier gets to a suitable distance today and will enjoy the expanses of the big Bendigo track. He’ll get his chance to run into the race late, providing it is run somewhere near a genuine tempo. If this is the case, he presents as a strong each way chance back in this grade.
Currently, Pannier is an $8.50 chance in the market.
Bendigo
Race 8 – Gaze Grise
Jockey – Rose Hammond
1300m – Barrier 9
Puissance De Lune mare Gaze Grise comes right back in grade when she returns to Bendigo this afternoon. The six-year-old galloper was strong from the back at this track and trip a fortnight ago, finishing runner-up when making up many lengths on a dominant leader from an impossible position turning for home. Apprentice hoop Rose Hammond hops on today and will again be forced back to the second half of the field early, hoping for a genuine tempo to run on in the home straight.
Speed is okay early with Favourite Child and Piiink Beauty to punch forward from the middle, while Albanian Bay and Numpty can make them work from their respective inside draws. Wide open race. Albanian Bay has been racing well this time in, splitting subsequent winners Magarten and Prancing With Fire at Sandown last start. He was four-and-a-half lengths away from Another Wil that day, who has twice since made a mess of Saturday company. Must be considered. If you ignore the Camperdown run, Numpty is going well this preparation and has drawn for the gun run here. Each way claims. So too Piiink Beauty who was a dominant on-pace winner at Stawell last start. Could make a case for a few others.
Gaze Grise was clearly the best of the closers here last start, peeling off hot late sectionals in a real eye-catching run. She won’t want to be so far away on the turn today and should get a more suitable tempo up front to stake her claim late. In an open affair, she shapes as one of the main hopes.
Currently, Gaze Grise is a $7.50 chance in the market.