Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Sunday 20 September 2026
Our top pick won 5 of 8 races at Bendigo. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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The one to beat on exposed ability. A five-year-old maiden but a genuine 1600m specialist with four seconds from five tries at the trip, and his closing effort over further at Ballarat is the most compelling form in this race.
The fit, on-pace runner in a race that should suit the front. Placed three times at 1600m and second at this track and trip, and he has the speed to lead. Solid each-way.
Stable confidence is the drawcard: the Freedman yard is going well, they have booked Michael Dee, and this filly improved sharply at her second preparation start, finishing off strongly at Sandown.
He led and stuck on for fourth over a shade further at Donald last start, and blinkers go on for the first time.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Koyuga Rip | 12 | Declan Bates | Annalise Maragos | 59.5kg | $4.00 |
| 2nd | 9 | King Winston | 3 | Beau Mertens | Greg Eurell | 57kg | $8.00 |
| 3rd | 10 | Sentaloa | 1 | Daniel Stackhouse | Matt Laurie | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 6 | Nightowl | 8 | Thomas Stockdale | Andrew Noblet | 59.5kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 8 | Kuheylan | 11 | Jett Stanley | Julius Sandhu | 57.5kg | $101.00 |
| 6th | 7 | Notre Citrouille | 2 | Lachlan King | Bob Challis | 59.5kg | $71.00 |
| 7th | 1 | I'lberidin'shotgun | 7 | John Allen | Emma Church | 59.5kg | $16.00 |
| 8th | 12 | Cajun | 5 | Michael Dee | Anthony and Sam Freedman | 55kg | $2.90 |
| 9th | 5 | Merton Bells | 10 | Alana Kelly | Dan O'Sullivan | 59.5kg | $26.00 |
| 10th | 2 | I'm Marcus | 4 | Joe Bowditch | Kim and Gayle Mayberry | 59.5kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 3 | King Fleance | 9 | Richard Cully | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Valzeera | 6 | Emma-Lee and David Browne | 57kg |
The Hayes colt ran a big race at this track last start, settling handy and fighting on for a close fourth over 1300m. Drawn ideally in gate two, he should land in the leading pair, and this track clearly favours horses on the speed. Craig Williams, who rides Bendigo well, stays aboard. Still lightly raced and open to improvement second-up, he looks the one to beat in an even maiden.
Placed in both starts and was beaten under two lengths at Mornington last time after leading over this trip. He has the early dash to control the race from gate eight, and this track rewards on-pace runners.
His debut at Echuca was the strongest closing effort in this field — he settled last and flew home to be beaten only a fraction. Busuttin and Young now step him to 1500m with Michael Dee aboard and natural second-up improvement. The concern is a wide draw in nine, which could leave him giving away a start on a track that favours on-speed horses.
The class runner of the field, dropping sharply from metropolitan two-year-old company where she placed at Sandown and finished fourth at Flemington over 1800m. As a filly she gets weight relief from the geldings and maps to settle just off the speed from gate six.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | Written Empire | 2 | Craig Williams | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 58kg | $1.30 |
| 2nd | 2 | Gilgeous | 9 | Michael Dee | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 58kg | $14.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Murshidi | 4 | Declan Bates | Ciaron Maher | 58kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 9 | Blue Gamble | 1 | Luke Nolen | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 56kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Dubai Prayer | 5 | Billy Egan | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 58kg | $91.00 |
| 6th | 5 | Passio | 8 | Thomas Stockdale | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 58kg | $11.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Restrict Me Not | 7 | John Allen | Archie Alexander | 58kg | $41.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Jayzeeah | 3 | Lachlan King | Jason Warren | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 7 | Sightseeing | 10 | Jackson Radley | Glen Thompson | 56.5kg | $31.00 |
| Scr | 10 | Delahra | 6 | S Nichols and H Black | 56kg |
The clear class runner of a moderate maiden. She has mixed it in Group 1 staying company and now drops sharply in grade. The queries are genuine, though: she resumes, tries 1400m for the first time, and will get back from gate 14 in a race that looks truly run.
Consistent on-pace mare who saves her best for Bendigo, having finished second and third here at her last two runs. From gate six she should lob into the first handful and be hard to run down in a race that clearly favours the on-speed horses.
Improving mare who ran a big race for second at Bendigo two starts back and was narrowly beaten over a mile earlier in the campaign. John Allen is a strong booking and she meets an easier line-up than she has been facing.
Three-year-old filly who gets the gun run from barrier one and has the speed to take up a handy position, which is the recipe for success at this track. Her close third in stronger company two starts back was a winning-level effort.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Classic Gem | 14 | Billy Egan | Dominic Sutton | 58kg | $1.55 |
| 2nd | 4 | Dela Bella | 10 | Ryan Hurdle | Tetyana Furdetska | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 3rd | 11 | Endemic | 11 | Luke Currie | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 55.5kg | $41.00 |
| 4th | 12 | Novamira | 7 | Craig Williams | Chris Waller | 55.5kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 3 | Clux Star | 6 | Neil Farley | Raharna McDonald | 58kg | $14.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Classic Cracker | 13 | Declan Bates | Saab Hasan | 58kg | $151.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Open Fire | 8 | Beau Mertens | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 8th | 7 | Painted Wings | 3 | Thomas Stockdale | Edward Cummings | 58kg | $151.00 |
| 9th | 14 | Teen Torque | 4 | Luke Nolen | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 55.5kg | $11.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Big Hearted | 5 | Jackson Radley | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 54kg | $101.00 |
| 11th | 13 | Tagabella | 1 | Michael Dee | Ken and Kasey Keys | 55.5kg | $13.00 |
| 12th | 5 | Gresford | 2 | Jett Stanley | Erin Maher | 58kg | $201.00 |
| Scr | 8 | Regal Time | 9 | Raharna McDonald | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 9 | Skydream | 12 | Mitchell Freedman | 58kg |
He won his most recent jump out over 1050m at Caulfield Heath and placed in the other, showing sharp early speed and a professional attitude. Matt Laurie places his first-starters well and Daniel Stackhouse sticks, a positive intent signal.
He brings the best exposed form into this.
An unraced I Am Invincible filly from a stable that has a good record at this track. Barrier 3 is a plus given the inside-to-on-pace pattern that plays here. She has the upside but must prove herself under race pressure, so she is a place/protector rather than a win play.
A five-year-old with just one run on the board but genuine speed and Group-level exposure. He should lead, and Bendigo's strong on-pace profile plays right into his hands.
The class runner of the field. She maps to sit just off the speed, which is exactly where Bendigo winners come from, and the stable is firing. The wide gate and a first look at a good track are the only real query.
Overpriced on her best form. With no obvious leader engaged she should land in the first few from barrier 4, and the Bendigo pattern rewards exactly that position.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Saturn Sky | 8 | Daniel Stackhouse | Matt Laurie | 57kg | $1.14 |
| 2nd | 10 | Miss Dividend | 3 | Billy Egan | Dominic Sutton | 56kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 9 | Five Knights | 4 | Joe Bowditch | Rachael Frost | 55kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 4 | Last Piece | 2 | Samantha Noble | Steven Noble | 57.5kg | $91.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Dimachaerus | 7 | Luke Nolen | Timothy Fitzsimmons | 59.5kg | $18.00 |
| 6th | 5 | My Boy Arnie | 5 | Lachlan King | Janet Wicks | 57kg | $51.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Western Edge | 11 | Bailey Kinninmont | Chris Davis | 56.5kg | $91.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Verlander | 6 | Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Utopic Overlord | 1 | Liam Howley | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Aryaam | 10 | Anthony and Sam Freedman | 55.5kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Queen Serena | 9 | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 55kg |
Progressive mare who has already won here over the trip and closed strongly for fourth over 1000m last start. Her recent form stands up with the better runners engaged. The wide gate and 61kg top weight are the knock, but she relaxes and can be doing her best work late. Solid place claims.
Consistent Hayes mare who is unbeaten in two starts at this trip and looks ideally placed to control the race from barrier two. She settled on the speed and won at Murtoa, then kept finding the line for fourth at Mornington. Races handy in a contest where the on-pace runners hold a clear edge. Strong each-way claims.
Fresh off a jump-out win and second-up today, she maps to settle midfield in a genuinely fast-run race, which sets up her powerful finish. Drawn ideally in barrier three. Hard to beat if she reproduces her best.
Improving mare whose trainer is in red-hot form and who won a Cranbourne race at this level before two sharp Flemington jump-outs. Drawn well in barrier four, she should settle on the speed, which is exactly where this track rewards runners.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Iced Poppy | 11 | Lachlan King | Ben Brisbourne | 61kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Nerola | 4 | Daniel Stackhouse | Simon Zahra | 60.5kg | $12.00 |
| 3rd | 8 | Farakta | 7 | Luke Currie | Robbie Griffiths | 59.5kg | $2.40 |
| 4th | 1 | Tapo | 6 | Bailey Kinninmont | Gwenda Johnstone | 59.5kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 10 | Xtramagic | 10 | Fred W Kersley | Paul Preusker | 58kg | $12.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Elena Montero | 8 | Michael Dee | Jody Thompson | 60kg | $9.50 |
| 7th | 7 | Kamezali | 1 | John Allen | Taige Weir | 60kg | $19.00 |
| 8th | 9 | No Overtaking | 5 | Jett Stanley | Brent Stanley | 59kg | $11.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Meet Me Halfway | 2 | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 60.5kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Earth's Abundance | 3 | Matt Laurie | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Hidden Witness | 9 | Brittany Raymond | 56kg |
Ticks the boxes for this track and trip. He won first-up this campaign after leading and the inside draw lets him settle close to the speed on a Bendigo circuit that heavily favours on-pace runners. Craig Williams takes over and rides this track well. Still lightly raced and improving, he rates the one to beat despite the rise in grade.
The class runner of the field, with a win and two placings from just three starts including a victory at this trip from the back. The doubts are real, though: every start has been on soft ground, she resumes from a long break, and her get-back style is against the grain at Bendigo where on-pace runners dominate. Too short to back to win, but she is a clear place player.
The speed runner of the field and the track profile plays to her strengths. She should lead from a wide gate and, on a Bendigo circuit where leaders win close to one in three, she can give a sight.
The class runner of the field, dropping from a Caulfield BM74 to this grade. Second-up with a trial under the belt.
The class angle in the race. He contested better company than this last campaign, including a Group race, and in his only Class 1 outing he ran well against far stronger opposition than he meets today.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Bella Verona | 4 | Patrick Moloney | Matt Laurie | 59kg | $1.80 |
| 2nd | 1 | Endless Summer | 2 | Jackson Radley | Andrew Bobbin | 61kg | $6.50 |
| 3rd | 7 | Hydrothermal | 1 | Craig Williams | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 56.5kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 5 | The Muffin Man | 3 | Thomas Stockdale | Matthew Enright | 58kg | $9.50 |
| 5th | 10 | Rivazza | 6 | Bailey Kinninmont | Chris Davis | 53.5kg | $151.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Blue Typhoon | 5 | Cory Parish | Nathan Hobson | 56kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Mister Martini | 7 | Luke Currie | Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes | 59kg | $9.50 |
| 8th | 9 | Moral Turpitude | 8 | Jett Stanley | Erin Maher | 55kg | $81.00 |
| 9th | 6 | Justique | 9 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will and JD Hayes | 57kg | $12.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Savoyard | 10 | Clifford Brown | 61.5kg |
Mount Sabyinyo has won two of four starts and beat a BM66 field over this trip on a good track, running to a winning standard. His stable prepares horses well at Bendigo. The wide gate is the knock, but he has the early speed to cross and slot in.
Our Justify has finished in the placings in six of seven starts, including a nose second over this course and trip. She closes hard and the predicted hot tempo plays straight into her hands, while barrier one gives her a soft trail. The only knock is a strike rate of one win from seven — she has been the bridesmaid repeatedly — but she maps to be right in the finish again.
Untapped lines up here after mixing it in stronger metropolitan BM74 races and his last-start Sandown fifth, beaten less than two lengths, reads well for this company. He has the early speed to take up a handy spot from barrier four and the drop in class is a genuine plus. The risk is that he is an on-pace type in a race with a stack of early speed, so he needs to be cuddled rather than fighting for the lead.
A fast tempo suits his closing style and his rider has three wins from eight on him. The wide gate and dry track are the risks, but at 20-1 he is a big each-way overlay.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 14 | Our Justify | 1 | Daniel Stackhouse | Jerome Hunter | 57kg | $2.50 |
| 2nd | 2 | Shaalute | 11 | Dakotah Keane | Matt Laurie | 60.5kg | $15.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Untapped | 4 | Jackson Radley | Emma-Lee and David Browne | 59.5kg | $4.60 |
| 4th | 1 | He's Beset | 8 | Nadia Daniels | Dean Williams | 59.5kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Razzo Rosso | 10 | Luke Nolen | Shawn Mathrick | 60kg | $31.00 |
| 6th | 10 | Gunado | 7 | John Allen | William Morrissey | 58.5kg | $18.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Mount Sabyinyo | 12 | Michael Dee | Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | 60kg | $4.80 |
| 8th | 9 | Alternate | 2 | Brittany Button | Stacey Kirkpatrick | 56kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 11 | Materazzi | 9 | Billy Egan | Greg Eurell | 58.5kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 8 | Brutalina | 5 | Thomas Stockdale | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 59.5kg | $7.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Camp Cable | 13 | Lee and Shannon Hope | 61kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Feeling Dusty | 6 | Jett Stanley | Charlotte Littlefield | 60.5kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Sky Watcher | 16 | Jack Laing | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Final Countdown | 15 | Paul Preusker | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | Sarapo | 14 | Chris Waller | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 16 | Viva Mauricio | 3 | Craig Williams | Chris Waller | 56kg | |
| Scr | 17 | Mamuno | 17 | Clifford Brown | 56kg |
The form miler in the race. She has won three of four at Bendigo and four of seven over 1600m, and she powered home from midfield to win over this course and distance last start. She steps up a notch in grade but her record here is well clear of anything else in the field. The wide draw is the concern, yet she gets back regardless and the long straight plays to her strength.
His recent runs were all on wet ground he clearly dislikes.
She won a 66 at this track two starts ago and finished third over this mile at Bendigo last time, form that stacks up well here. She settles in the front half and the projected hot tempo plays to her strength, she gets a weight pull on a key rival from that last-start clash, and her stable and rider are firing. Reliable win play.
An improving four-year-old in a rich vein of form. He won at Echuca over a mile and was unlucky not to win again at Wangaratta, charging from last into third. He lands a nice barrier and should be ridden positively from midfield. The obvious query is the jump in grade from country BM56 company to this level, but he is lightly raced and still on the up.
His last run over 1500m here in similar grade was honest and he drops a long way in the weights.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Eishaa | 14 | Thomas Stockdale | Holly McKechnie | 59.5kg | $8.50 |
| 2nd | 9 | Terrortorian | 3 | Billy Egan | Nick Ryan | 59kg | $3.70 |
| 3rd | 2 | Cable Dancer | 17 | Brad Rawiller | Charlotte Littlefield | 62.5kg | $31.00 |
| 4th | 14 | Fearless Writer | 8 | Luke Currie | Adrian McGregor | 56kg | $12.00 |
| 5th | 3 | Yahoo Bar | 9 | Bailey Kinninmont | Liam Howley | 59kg | $5.00 |
| 6th | 16 | Washington Lilac | 13 | Luke Nolen | Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman | 55.5kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 7 | No Rumours | 11 | John Allen | Paul Preusker | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 17 | Jawsome Rob | 2 | Jett Stanley | Annalise Maragos | 57kg | $9.50 |
| 9th | 5 | Zorb | 6 | Declan Bates | Archie Alexander | 60kg | $8.50 |
| 10th | 1 | Port Philip | 1 | Caitlin Hollowood | Julius Sandhu | 60kg | $101.00 |
| 11th | 8 | Navy Heart | 5 | Beau Mertens | Ciaron Maher | 59kg | $6.50 |
| 12th | 15 | Ostrica | 7 | Dakotah Keane | Shawn Mathrick | 54kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Pure Grunt | 15 | Ken and Kasey Keys | 60.5kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Octane Reign | 16 | Jason Warren | 58.5kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Invisible Magic | 10 | Ciaron Maher | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | The Quiet Immortal | 4 | Lachlan King | Ben Brisbourne | 58kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Aubaine | 12 | Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr | 57.5kg |
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