EXPERT RACING TIPS: BENDIGO
BENDIGO PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 17TH 2025
RAIL: True TRACK: Soft 6
Bendigo with the rail in the true position usually plays advantageous to horses on-speed and nearer the rail but a S6 track throws a slight spanner into the works.
Best Bets
Jackson Oldham
LAY: 1. Left Hook (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $5.75)
Left Hook has always shown plenty in the morning hours of jumpouts and trials but has yet to bring that to raceday, he resumes here gelded off a 131-day spell but I have to be against until I see it on raceday from him.
lay
Jackson Oldham
BACK: 8. Trembles (WIN) for 1 unit (Rated at $2.33)
Trembles has some very big ratings last preparation, she should be right on-speed and the booking of Mark Zahra first-up suggests plenty of intent from the camp, as does two jumpouts off only an 81-day spell. My slight query would be the rain affected ground, as her only fail last preparation was on a S6 track.
back
5. Highland Glory
4. Thundering Falcon
1. Callawadda
6. Tradeworx
Betting Strategy
An extremely limited race to kick off a midweek meeting, Highland Glory is knocking on the door of a victory.
1. Diamond Gust
2. Mongolian Gobi
5. Single Choice
6. Ferocious Frankie
Betting Strategy
Diamond Gust had little luck and was well supported at Sandown against second-favourite Mongolian Gobi, M.Zahra sticks.
4. Hyde Park Corner
6. Keep It Real
3. She’s Speedy
1. Left Hook
Betting Strategy
LAY: 1. Left Hook (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $5.75)
Left Hook has always shown plenty in the morning hours of jumpouts and trials but has yet to bring that to raceday, he resumes here gelded off a 131-day spell but I have to be against until I see it on raceday from him.
3. King Maywin
1. Brave Danza
6. Obvious
7. Patriot Wolf
Betting Strategy
Spring preview day is at Flemington on Sunday but I wouldn’t at all be surprised if this is as good a window into the Victoria Derby picture as that. All of those in the market look likely types over further.
7. Fisherman’s Beach
3. Blazing Sword
9. Freud
10. Mosamour
Betting Strategy
Interesting to see the late Betfair market for Fisherman’s Beach, who has a very strong SP profile and is now under the care of Gavin Bedggood.
1. Tapo
5. Kokako
3. Furosshi
14. Eco Force
Betting Strategy
Kokako has always shown plenty of talent but must have her share of issues being a five-year-old mare having only had three career starts. She will need some luck at a key stage from the inside draw and the jockey isn’t one that instills me with confidence from that position.
8. Trembles
13. Grinzinger Sun
6. Interest Point
11. Foragoodcause
Betting Strategy
BACK: 8. Trembles (WIN) for 1 unit (Rated at $2.33)
Trembles has some very big ratings last preparation, she should be right on-speed and the booking of Mark Zahra first-up suggests plenty of intent from the camp, as does two jumpouts off only an 81-day spell. My slight query would be the rain affected ground, as her only fail last preparation was on a S6 track.
4. Harrumph Harrumph
8. Entrusting
16. Rock Them Jools
14. Gold Medallist
Betting Strategy
Harrumph Harrumph should be on-speed and has the most upside in the race, maybe with Entrusting, who has a tricker map but the price looks about right having said that.
BENDIGO RACING TIPS
Bendigo Racecourse was first established in 1858 and is situated approximately 150 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. It has established a reputation as “the nursery of champions”, with several revered racehorses – including seven-time Group 1 winner Better Loosen Up and the 2009 Melbourne Cup hero Shocking – having broken their maiden at the picturesque track. From maidens to feature races, our punting experts bring you their Bendigo tips across all meetings. Mr. J A Canton, who would later become a notable Melbourne magistrate, was the club’s first President. The inaugural Sandhurst Cup, which would become the Bendigo Cup, was staged in 1868 and was won by Old England.  Â
In 1873, the Bendigo Jockey Club converted the Bendigo Racecourse to anti-clockwise running and the old grandstand, which had stood on the opposite side of the course, was replaced by a new one. This grandstand was then replaced in November 1902 by the stand that still graces the racecourse to this very day.Â
The $400,000 Bendigo Cup, held each October over a distance of 2400m, has traditionally been considered a lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup. The Group 3 contest has been won in the past by several international raiders including Francis of Assisi (2016) and Qewy (2017), both owned by Godolphin and trained in the UK by Charlie Appleby. Horses have also used it for other races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, such as the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Golden Mile Raceday is also a key fixture on the club calendar, head to the Betfair Hub for Bendigo best bets throughout the year.       Â
In 1998, the entire track was reconstructed and the racecourse now has a circumference of 1,995 metres, and a home straight of 400 metres. The big oval course is 24m wide and caters for races from 1000m to 2400m, plus jumps races over 3000m. The course features two starting chutes, one providing for races over 1000m and 1100m, and the other for races over 1500m and 1600m. The 1600m start provides a long straight run of 800m to the well-cambered horseshoe turn that leads into the long home straight. Sticking to the rail is always the shortest route home, but most runners tend to get their chance in the home straight as the wide track at Bendigo generally races very fairly. For all the best Bendigo bets, Betfair’s team of tipsters has you covered.Â
