Bendigo hosts an eight-race card to take us into the month of March.
The best of the day comes up in race one with a first starter ready to fire.
bendigo race 1
#2 crosswinds
Crosswinds is an impeccably-bred two-year-old colt.
Being by Written Tycoon out of a stakes-winning damn means the pressure is on him to perform at a high level early in his career.
He has shown nice ability at the jump outs having run third in his first jump out and winning his second and most recent jump out.
What stood out in his second jump out was the presence of mind to pierce through a gap and show his turn of foot.
He was slightly ridden out to get there, but it was good to see him respond under pressure.
He did open favourite in the early markets and has drifted since, so there is good value to be found at the $3+ at the moment.
Suggested Bet: Crosswinds win at $3.30
bendigo race 2
#4 sheer class
Sheer Class makes his debut as a three-year-old gelding after two solid jump outs.
His most recent jump out effort at Werribee saw him chase down a tearaway leader to win.
It was a good educational jump out for this gelding after being ridden out and he showed great tenacity under riding to get his bib in front on the post.
Proven he can handle being ridden under the pump and he looks a great chance here.
Suggested Bet: Sheer Class each-way at $4.6 the win and $2 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 4, 7
bendigo race 7
#6 star of manhattan
Star Of Manhattan looks as though she will resume with a sharp sprint.
The now four-year-old mare comes back into racing after a 214-day long spell from the track.
Her two jump outs have looked sharp and should have her on song.
Mitch Aitken has a good affiliation with this mare having ridden at her most recent starts, which was a winning run in BM-60 level in Adelaide.
She gets the gear change of a cross-over noseband being applied in order to stop her from over-racing during the run and getting their mouth open.
If she can settle nicely in behind the leaders, with a professional head carriage and racing generously, she is poised to run a one first-up.
Suggested Bet: Star Of Manhattan win $4.8 the win and $2.25 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 3 & 6
bendigo race 8
#6 surecan
An intriguing gear change has been applied here for Surecan.
He gets the blinkers on his near side for the first time in his career, which is done to stop him from laying in and losing lengths.
He got smashed by Morning Has Broken to the tune of seven lengths, but he was racing on a very heavy track over 1600 metres at Hamilton just over a month ago.
The Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace stable has since given him a very quiet jump out in between runs to keep him ticking over.
Johnny Allen takes the ride and looks the right type of aggressive jockey to get the most out of this horse.
Suggested Bet: Surecan win at $4.60
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta -5/ 2, 4/ 2, 4
