Progressive four-year-old Practiced looks well placed to take out this afternoons Listed Bendigo Cup (2400m) and retain the trophy for connections who saddled up the first two past the post in last years renewal.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Those two were Tanby and At First Sight, with Tanby, who had the weights in his favour, coming out on top.
Practiced isn’t quite as well performed as that pair, but similarly to Tanby he is making good improvement with every trip to the races and is expected to go to a clear new peak today.
Practiced has won two of four this time in. After winning first up at Echuca he bumped into the smart Callanish who had his measure over the mile at Sandown.
Up to 2000m at Caulfield he was narrowly denied by Whisper Downs but reversed that form at the same course and distance last time, winning with something to spare from an in-form Commanding Time and the progressive Menados.
That form puts him in the mix here and he is expected to take another good step forward with today’s step up in trip likely to play to his strengths.
He showed his stamina when bravely chasing home Saturday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup winner, Vatuvei, in last season’s VRC St. Leger over 2800m.
A repeat of that piece of form would see him prove mighty hard to beat today.
His biggest danger looks to come from the Tony McEvoy trained Sky Raider who comes off a peak effort in the Listed Bart Cummings over 2520m at Flemington.
There he finished fourth, just two lengths from last years Bendigo Cup winner Tanby. Second and third, Maluckyday and Dame Claire have both run well since.
A key asset that Sky Raider brings into the race is the ability to go forward early. Not many of these have a great deal of early speed and a soft run in front can see Sky Raider take plenty of pegging back.
Puissance De Lune got turned over at long odds-on last time and now goes up in class but he did have to give plenty of weight to a horse in cracking form there and he remains a horse with plenty of upside.
Like Practiced he does need to keep improving to be winning this but he’s lightly raced and looks to have plenty more to offer.
The old boy Fiumicino has seen his best days go by but his latest effort rates highly in this with the compressed weights giving him as good a chance as he will get to win another race.
A bit of rain would help his cause.
Silent Surround and Miss With Attitude are both ticking over okay and look the roughies to include for those playing the multiples.
Best of luck and happy punting.
