Classic battle brings stars to Bendigo

A stunning field of stars has been assembled for the inaugural $100,000 Group 1 VHRC Caduceus Classic at Bendigo this weekend.

Race handicappers had the unenviable task of culling a cracking list of nominations down to a field of just 10, with David Aiken-trained Sirletic named as the sole emergency for the 1650m contest.

Aiken’s other top-liner Max Delight has won a place in the race and will start from barrier two alongside last week’s brilliant TAB Minuteman Free For All winner Western Sonador (Stephen O’Donoghue/Rebecca Bartley), who has landed the inside alley.

Russell Jack has two runners in the feature, with new stable acquisitions Boots Electric and Perfect Stride drawing three and 10 respectively, Jess Tubbs’ Kiwi import Triple Eight is in four, while the exciting General Dodge (Mick Chircop) will begin from five in his highly-anticipated return to the races.

Wolf Stride is second-up for the Andy Gath stable and has the outside of the front row to contend with, while Torrid Saint (Julie Douglas), Out To Play (Clayton Tonkin) and Bettor Be The Bomb (Basil Dooley) are all off the back.

The other elite level contest on the Lord’s Raceway card is the Opus Group Australasian Trotting Championship, which has drawn a capacity field to the stand.

Country cups champ Well Defined is the fresh horse on the scene, with Kate Hargreaves’ charge returning from a break for just his second attempt at Group 1 level.

Last year’s winner Majestuoso (Gath) is one of two runners off the 10m handicap.

Among the other highlights is the return of Victorian 2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year Major Moth. Tonkin’s son of Art Major is poised to clash with the airborne Bondi Lockdown (Aaron Dunn) among other top three-year-olds.

Saturday night’s meeting will be broadcast live and free on Trots Vision, with the first race to go at 6.02pm.

VHRC CADUCEUS CLASSIC (GROUP 1)

1650M

1            WESTERN SONADOR      S J O’Donoghue, R K Bartley/Rebecca Bartley

2            MAX DELIGHT    David Aiken/Chris Alford

3            BOOTS ELECTRIC NZ       Russell Jack/James Herbertson (C)

4            TRIPLE EIGHT NZ              Jess Tubbs/Greg Sugars

5            SIRLETIC (Em 1) David Aiken/Josh Aiken

6            GENERAL DODGE            Mick Chircop/Jason Lee

7            WOLF STRIDE     Andy Gath/Kate Gath

—————————— Second Row ——————————

8            TORRID SAINT    Julie Douglas/John Caldow

9            OUT TO PLAY     Clayton Tonkin/David Moran

10          PERFECT STRIDE NZ        Russell Jack/Leigh Sutton

11          BETTOR BE THE BOMB   Basil Dooley/Jack Laugher (C)

OPUS GROUP AUSTRALASIAN TROTTING CHAMPIONSHIP (GROUP 1)

2650M

1            MAORI LAW       E Brosnan, R J Brosnan/Anthony Butt FT

2            ROBBIE ROYALE NZ         Brent Lilley/Chris Alford FT

3            PANTZUP (Em 1)              Maree Caldow/John Caldow FT

4            KYVALLEY CHIEF NZ         Brent Lilley/Greg Sugars FT

5            SLEEPEE              Alison Alford FT

6            ALDEBARAN CRESCENT David Aiken/Josh Aiken FT

7            COVER OF DARKNESS     Emma Stewart/David Moran FT

—————————— Second Row ——————————

8            IM READY JET    Anton Golino/Jack Laugher (C) FT

9            IMSETTOGO       Anton Golino/Josh Duggan FT

10          WELL DEFINED NZ           Kate Hargreaves/Ellen TormeyFT

11          SUNDONS COURAGE      Chris Angove/Jayden Brewin (C)FT

12          RED HOT TOOTH             Kari Males/Zac Phillips                 10m

13          MAJESTUOSO NZ             Andy Gath/Kate Gath     10m

Click here to view fields for Bendigo this Saturday night.