Seven heats of the Sportsbet Bendigo Cup will be run on Sunday, with stars lining up in every race.
Heat 1 (Race 4): Headlined by straight-track specialist Mile A Minute, last year’s Bendigo Cup runner-up to Boracay Storm after taking out the Healesville Cup. We last saw him during the Healesville Cup series last month, finishing second in both his heat and the final. One thing’s for sure – he is fast. Very fast.
Heat 2 (Race 5): Youngster It’s Mikado Time steps out after returning to the winner’s circle at Ballarat last month, following almost two months on the sidelines. He was scratched from the Group 1 Maturity Classic heats in July with hock soreness, but prior to that he claimed the Listed Mark Hughes Foundation Prospector Final at Bendigo in a brilliant 23.63 (Best of Night).
It’s Mikado Time (1) wins the Mark Hughes Foundation Prospector Final at Bendigo in July.
Heat 3 (Race 6): The action really heats up with superstar Explicit drawing box one. We last saw him at Bendigo in March when he returned to racing following his post-Phoenix retirement. On that occasion, also from box one, he clocked a sizzling 23.57 (Best of Night) over the 425 metres.
Heat 4 (Race 7): Slick Splits makes his Country Cup debut in his 16-start career. His most recent outing was at Angle Park in August, where he ran seventh in the lead-up to the South Australian Derby. A minor toe issue forced him out of the Derby heats, but reports suggest he is back to full fitness and ready to go.
Heat 5 (Race 8): Australian Cup winner Mepunga Tully makes her long-awaited return after seven months on the sidelines with a hock injury. She was given the green light to resume after a sharp Satisfactory Trial at Geelong last Tuesday, stopping the clock at 25.74 over 460 metres, including a slick 6.47 first split.
Heat 6 (Race 9): Blessed Rained enters in career-best form, having notched up three Best of Night wins across Warragul and Healesville. She loves a wide draw and has speed to burn.
Heat 7 (Race 10): Rounding out the big names are Hotel Whisky One and Tarawi Therese. Hotel Whisky One has drawn box one and returns to Victoria after an unlucky last in the Dapto Megastar. He was among the fastest heat winners of last year’s Bendigo Cup before finishing fifth after finding early trouble.
Meanwhile, Tarawi Therese comes in with a picket-fence form line, highlighted by her spectacular 18.68 Sportsbet Healesville Cup win last month. She draws box eight – the only alley she hasn’t won from – but given her recent form, little looks capable of stopping her.
