Bendigo Cup – 2023

Track: Good Weather: Fine

The scratching of the Coongy winner Muramasa leaves a field of fifteen for the $500,000 Group 3 Bendigo Cup.  The favourite Interpretation has been well backed early.  He ran an eye catching race in the Bart Cummings last start.  Hezashocka has also been met with good support.  If he was to get back to anywhere near his Autumn form he would be very hard to beat in this.

1. Luncies

Won the Tatt’s Cup well at Eagle Farm in June.  Has got back and worked home solidly in his two runs back.  Looks ready to fire here third up with Blake Shinn in the saddle.

2. Hezashocka

Class horse in the race.  Ran strong races in the Australian Cup and Queen Elizabeth earlier in the year.  Yet to show his best this prep but he gets his chance fourth up here at a trip which suits.

3. Ho Ho Khan

Struggling this prep and gets no favours from the gate.

4. Kukeracha

Wasn’t sighted after starting big odds in the Coongy last start.  Hard to have off recent form.

5. Muramasa  – SCRATCHED

6. Hasta La War

His third in the Andrew Ramsden back in May reads well enough for a race like this but I’m not sure if he’s come up this prep.

7. Interpretation

Maher & Eustace galloper who has been a tease for punters since arriving on Australian shores.  Has threatened big things in several runs however has failed to deliver on the occasions when he has been well supported in the market.  On face value his run in the Bart Cummings last start was enormous and he maps to get every chance from barrier five with Michael Dee doing the steering.

8. Suizuro

Was a good winner of the Moe Cup last start but did have the advantage of a red hot rail so I am a touch cautious of that.  This trip suits.

9. Brayden Star

Won the Benalla Cup two back, then never came on in the Herbert Power.  Maps for a soft run.

10. Port Phillip

Was second in this race last year.  I thought his first up run was quite good.  Looking for this distance now.

11. Pesto

Settled on speed and raced away in a benchmark 84 at Caulfield last start.  Capable of improving on that rating here fourth up.

12. Taramansour

Ran 3rd in this race in 2021. Won first and second-up and was solid again third-up under the big weight.  Drops down to the minimum for this.

13. Win O’Clock

Won the Hamilton Cup last start and gets the king of the bush D Yendall on.

14. Rick’s Cafe

Lightly raced eight year old who rarely runs badly.  Ran home well enough in the Pinker Pinker last start at Cranbourne but looks up against it here drawn barrier 16.

15. Speak

She ran home well in the Pinker Pinker at Cranbourne and will appreciate getting out to this trip third up.

16. Wertheimer

Home track horse who does not have the class to be winning.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Lewis Oliver’s Tips	Jo Jackson’s Tips	Bryce Parker’s Tips
2 Hezashocka	8 Suizuro
1 Luncies	7 Interpretation
7 Interpretation	12 Taramansour
11 Pesto	9 Brayden Star

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	7 Interpretation
2nd	9 Brayden Star	0.1 length
3rd	12 Taramansour	0.6 length
4th	1 Luncies	0.7 length

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings: 5. Muramasa, 15. Speak.