Saturdays have been a battle for the last few weeks but I'm expecting a change of fortune with a couple of midweek fancies at Bendigo.
THAT RINGS A BELL (BENDIGO – Race 4 No 5)
The lightly-raced Danny O'Brien-trained mare blizted her opposition when resuming with an easy win on the Bendigo circuit on September 14, racing handy to the speed and scoring easily. The form out of the race is sound with the second horse Laughing Heir winning at Geelong last week and Cadabra winning her maiden at Ballarat on October 5. That Rings A Bell will be fitter for her first-up run and the daughter of So You Think will have no trouble with the 1600m. She's up from Benchmark 64 to Benchmark 70 class but That Rings A Bell is a mare on the way up.
BET: WIN
ODDS $3.70 @ Sportsbet.
KING MOMBASSA (BENDIGO - Race 6 No 7)
This bloke started his career with a steady maiden win at Mildura but has improved with experience at his next two outings. The Darren Weir-trained three-year-old did a good job when stepping straight to city grade second-up at Mornington in a race won by Caulfield Guineas hopeful Levendi. The second placegetter at Mornington went on to score at Listed level at Flemington last Saturday. He chased well but just couldn't get past the leader when narrowly beaten on this circuit last time out and he'll be harder to beat with extra experience on Wednesday.
BET: WIN
ODDS $4.40
SHERLOCK HOLMES (BENDIGO – Race 7 No 1)
There wasn't a lot wrong with Sherlock Holmes's first-up run at Caulfield on September 23 and there's no reason he won't improve sharply at Bendigo on Wednesday. Sherlock Holmes rolled forward and settled fifth on the inside in what was a slowly-run race and he took a long time to pick up when the pressure went on at the 700m. However, there was a lot to like about the way he built momentum in the straight and worked home to finish 2 ¼ lengths from the stakeswinner Anaheim and Sin To Win, who won at Mornington at his next outing. The 2400m will be perfect for Sherlock Holmes at Bendigo and he'll be hard to beat dropping back to Benchmark 70 grade.
BET: WIN
ODDS $4.40 at Sportsbet.
