Chasing a King’s ransom on Vic Cup Night

The highly anticipated Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup meeting has arrived at its new location of Bendigo this Saturday night and the fields assembled have lived up to all expectations.

Open class pacers will clash in the marquee event for $300,000 after the $200,000 Lather Up Victoria Derby for the three-year-old colts and geldings, the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Oaks for the girls and the best trotters will have their opportunities in the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Sprint.

While it’s disappointing the COVID situation won’t allow an on-course audience to enjoy such elite harness racing in the flesh, the buildup has been exciting with plenty of hotly contested lead ups, and Sky Racing Active will take us into the heart of the meeting tomorrow evening.

After a deep dive into the form for the four Group 1s, here are my thoughts:

RACE 6: Lather Up Victoria Derby Final (Group 1), 2650m

Likely positions at the bell: leader Act Now, outside leader Major Moth, leader’s back Tuppence.

Despite being deep into the three-year-old season, I still feel as though the majority of the field contesting this year’s Derby are untested as genuine stayers.

One thing we know for sure is that American Dealer is a proven performer over a trip.

Contesting both New Zealand Group 1 Derbys earlier this year, he cemented his staying prowess in an ultra-tough Queensland Derby success. Not noted for his gate speed, he did leave the gate brisker in a trial in the lead up to his first run this preparation.

Anthony Butt will be sure to ask for his supreme effort early and, even though I don’t believe he will be able to hold out the challenge of Act Now, he will still be forward in the running line.

I also give him a minor chance of him sneaking in behind the leader and, from either scenario, he will be right in the fight.

Act Now’s record when leading is elite, and his two latest victories have been arrogant including a dominant heat performance. His gate speed is devastating, and he will be in front and giving his rivals something to chase. A key to his chances will be settling through the middle stages if he is really buzzed off the arm.

Major Moth was the benchmark Victorian two-year-old last season and his three runs this season have not suggested he has taken a backwards step.  His Derby draw is not kind, however, his versatility and attitude cannot be disregarded.

If there is to be a rough result, I think Better Eclipse is the most likely. He seems to take big leaps each time he lines up, and his heat effort was eye catching. Finding a soft spot in transit will be vital.

SELECTIONS: 2 AMERICAN DEALER, 3 ACT NOW, 7 MAJOR MOTH and 4 BETTER ECLIPSE.

RACE 7: Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks Final (Group 1), 2650m

Likely positions at the bell: leader Beach Music, outside leader Ladies In Red, leader’s back Momentslikethese.

Emma Stewart has a strangle hold on this year’s Lather Up Victoria Oaks with five runners, including the clear top three in TAB.com.au betting.

Ladies In Red has been regarded as the best of the age group right through and deservedly so after only suffering a lone defeat in her 13 starts to date.

Despite this, I am timidly going around her this weekend.

Everyone knows the significance of barrier draws, particularly in feature races, and the advantage to Beach Music has swayed me.

Stewart has been very open in the lead up that she believes Beach Music has bridged the gap on Ladies In Red and should she be drawn to advantage she could really give things a shake.

That opinion, plus her NSW Oaks performance when leading and the barrier draw has me siding with her on top.

Ladies in Red could well come out and blow this field away, however, if Beach Music races to her best, the reigning Australian two-year-old filly of the year will have to be exceptional to sit outside her.

Joanna has lined up in all the big dances, and her gate speed is an excellent asset to finding herself in the firing line.

I don’t believe she has the speed to cross Beach Music, but it isn’t the end of the world if she doesn’t with likely cover coming from Ladies In Red.

Momentslikethese is already an Oaks winner this season and, despite this field being a few rungs stronger than that success, the draw gives her every opportunity.

SELECTIONS: 3 BEACH MUSIC, 10 LADIES IN RED, 6 JOANNA and 1 MOMENTSLIKETHESE.

RACE 8: Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Cup (Group 1), 2150m

Likely positions at the bell lap: leader Amazing Dream, outside leader King Of Swing, leader’s back Max Delight.

Somehow in defeat, King Of Swing raised several rungs on my respect ratings during his luckless Queensland sojourn. Nothing went right in the Sunshine Sprint and the Blacks A Fake where he still managed to record placings in each, importantly when not being able to lead.

He is no one-trick pony, and that will be tested again in the Victoria Cup, however I think he is capable. He is good enough to take luck out of the equation and his trial and run last week at Menangle will have him primed for this task.

It is easy to forget that Amazing Dream is only a four-year-old mare after she continues to take it to older, more seasoned Grand Circuit performers.

She defied the odds, not once but twice in Queensland and returned with a gritty Kilmore Cup performance when forced to run an ultra-quick last 800 metres three wide solo. How much work she must do to gain the front and how much pressure she then absorbs is going to be key to her chances, but there is no doubt she can succeed.

Triple Eight has been sensational this preparation and looks to profile perfectly from the gate should there be a minor upset.

Dominating the Caduceus Classic at the unfavourable mile trip, he was an eye catcher from well back in the Kilmore Cup. He looks set to get a beautiful quiet trip in transit and when the field breaks up, he will be charging.

Out To Play is already a Miracle Mile starter this year and his luckless A. G. Hunter Cup effort showed he can match it with the best. He is a first four player from the draw.

SELECTIONS: 13 KING OF SWING, 5 AMAZING BEAUTY, 8 TRIPLE EIGHT and 3 OUT TO PLAY.

RACE 9: Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Sprint (Group 1), 1650m

Likely positions at the bell lap: leader Majestuoso, outside leader Im Ready Jet, leader’s back Pink Galahs.

If Majestuoso finds the lead before they turn out of the back straight on the first occasion, then it could well be game over rapidly.

I have a niggling feeling that it won’t be that easy, however, I still think he is good enough and so in the zone that he can overcome a few obstacles. Winning three of his last four in dominant fashion from second row draws, his defeat three back was narrow from a 10-metre handicap.

Despite not doing a great deal of sprint trip racing, he has gate speed, a brilliant turn of foot and he is rock hard fit off the back of solid racing. He can cement his position as the best squaregaiter in the country by winning another Group 1.

The more I look at this race, the more I am warming up to Im Ready Jet. Last start she sat in the breeze for second in the Australian Trotting Championships when narrowly nosed out by Maori Law.

On that occasion Majestuoso had a quieter run-in transit and couldn’t get by her, and she hasn’t had a lot of luck with trips for some time. The big questions are whether she can hold out Majestuoso early, and whether Pink Galahs would be happy to let her go? If she leads, she is a big chance but parking outside the favourite will be no easy task.

Pink Galahs announced herself in this very race last year when making an enormous statement as a three-year-old filly. More recently, she clean swept the DJA series in Queensland before returning and having a quick freshen up in preparation for a big end to the season.

She has been beaten in her two runs back in Victoria, but she is generally a mare who improves through a preparation. In saying that her first-up second did appear better than her last start fourth, but she has the gate to have every opportunity.

Sleepeelooks to find herself in a three-fence position at best, but it may not be the worst place either. She is racing well and a definite first four chance.

SELECTIONS: 3 MAJESTUOSO, 2 IM READY JET, 1 PINK GALAHS and 8 SLEEPEE.

It is set to be a magnificent card of racing tomorrow evening and the excitement doesn’t end there with a further five Group class events spread across the card.

BEST OF THE WEEKEND: Bendigo R8 N13 King Of Swing 

VALUE OF THE WEEKEND: Bendigo R3 N2 Soho Dow Jones