The Bendigo Jockey Club, the Nursery of Champions, today hosts their annual Cup meeting. For OTI, it presents as a last-ditch opportunity for Amade to join Selino and Future Score as our Melbourne Cup contenders for 2021. Additionally, it provides three other gallopers their chances to win quality events on a top-quality race card.
Firstly, to the Cup itself, with OTI represented by two runners in Amade and Barade. As alluded to above, Amade is using the Bendigo Cup as a final effort to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. Ideally, he would have completed this task in last week’s Geelong Cup, but he fell short of meeting that qualification clause by a small margin (see replay below). While a top 3 finish today would satisfy our needs for Tuesday, he is there today to win one of the most prestigious Country Cups on the calendar. Despite the big weight, as the class runner of the field, we expect him to be hitting the line strongly.
Stakes double for Tavistock at Geelong. @CambridgeStud @NZTM_TWEET
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) October 20, 2021
3yo TUTUKAKA in the Geelong Classic@PikeRacing @LaneDamian @RafflesRacing @KarakaChat @HaunuiFarm
TRALEE ROSE in the Gr3 Geelong Cup.@wilde_racing @cameroncookebl @KarakaChat @CambridgeStud pic.twitter.com/TiGFXxxW6t
In a different mindset, connections of Barade will have only today to consider. He has been consistent if not a touch unlucky in his preparation to date and is deserving of a breakthrough win at the Group 3 level of the Bendigo Cup. What he does from the barriers will be important, as he has a propensity to be slowly away. A positive jump today would see him settle far closer in running from barrier 4 and give him his best chance of fighting out the finish.
Immediately after the Cup, we see Stokes and Alexander going head-to-head again for OTI, with Daqiansweet Junior and Vardani contesting the 1600m BM70 for their respective stables. Daqiansweet Junior’s 5th placing at Moe on return doesn’t read as significant form for this, however the run was full of merit given the extra distance he covered throughout the run. A more favourable draw today with Ben Allen aboard should allow him a more economical run in transit and hence more to give in the run to the line.
Vardani impressed first-up at Warrnambool last preparation and returns in a similar grade of race today at Bendigo. He has tuned up for his race return with a couple of country trials, including a winning effort at Avoca recently. From his wide gate, he is likely to settle in the second half of the field with a view to finishing strongly.
Last, and certainly by no means least, we will also be watching with interest the Canterbury Park meeting, where Comme Bella Fille leads the markets in her BM72 over 1900m for John O’Shea and Tommy Berry. She was an eye-catcher on her return a fortnight ago and it’s no surprise to see her well-favoured to be going one better in today’s event. She is a staying mare with a great deal of promise.
A most exciting day ahead for all connected with these horses and we wish of them the very best of luck.