Bendigo Racecourse hosts its biggest meeting of the autumn this Saturday include a smart field of middle-distance gallopers led by the Darren Weir-trained Burning Front in the Golden Mile 2017.
The in-form top weight Burning Front leads 2017 Golden Mile odds at Bendigo this weekend chasing a sixth win on the trot. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Due to run as Bendigo Race 7 at 4:10pm (AEDT), this year’s $150,000 Listed Golden Mile (1600m) field still runs at capacity with the first two emergencies – Battlecamp and General Custer – coming in for the scratched duo of Master Reset and Nevis.
Heading the Golden Mile weights with a hefty 60.5kg is Weir’s flying six-year-old Burning Front chasing his sixth win on the trot.
Last time out the galloper took out the Listed CS Hayes Cup (1600m) in Adelaide carrying 59.5kg and this weekend he is over the same distance in Victoria.
The ultra-consistent six-year-old has his forty-sixth career run on the weekend and his twelfth over the 1600m, chasing his sixth victory over the distance.
Despite giving the weight away, the bookies are taking no chances with Burning Front who is the $3.50 favourite through Ladbrokes.com.au in the latest Golden Mile odds.
Brad Rawiller rides the favourite from the mid-field barrier and the gun galloper is at a good price if he can overcome the kilos and keep the winning streak going for the Weir stable.
Three other runners are under double-figures in Golden Mile betting, including early market mover Show A Star ($6.50) drawn in barrier three.
Ballarat horseman Matt Cumani saddles-up the Excites five-year-old who chases a second win on the trot after a good effort over the mile at Flemington on March 4.
Show A Star has stellar form over the 1600m with four wins and a second from six starts and will relish dropping from 58.5kg last start to the 54kg minimum on Saturday.
The other best in betting are He Or She ($7.50) and the rails-drawn Zebrinz ($7) carrying 60kg and 54kg respectively.
Lindsay Park’s Kendal Star six-year-old He Or She is third-up on the weekend.
Two back at the start of the month the Group 1 performer won a Group 3 over 1400m at Flemington before his dead last when sixth to Palentino in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) a fortnight later.
A three-time winner over the mile He Or She will appreciate an easier class of rivals in the Golden Mile, but must go up in weight.
Zebrinz is very well-weighted and comes into the race in peak form for Leon & Troy Corstens.
The Sebring gelding has run third in his two lead-up races over 1400m at Flemington and will enjoy the step-up to a mile on Saturday, with staying out of trouble from that inside alley the number one priority for jockey Ben Thompson.
Of the double-figure fancies the likes of the Michael Moroney-trained four-year-old War Legend ($12) and Shocking gelding Battlecamp ($13) for Lee & Anthony Freedman from outside barriers fourteen and fifteen respectively shape-up as genuine chances at the upset.
Check out the official Golden Mile 2017 field, barriers, jockeys, weights and latest markets below – pricing provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – the home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
