Melbourne Cup hopeful Howard Be Thy Name will lead the field out for the Group 3 $300,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo on Wednesday.
Howard Be Thy Name, above, is the top weight for the Bendigo Cup. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
The Darren Weir trained Howard Be Thy Name was today also among the second acceptances for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 1.
Howard Be Thy Name was the winner of the Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 14 but hasn’t been back to the winner’s circle in five runs since.
The Redoute’s Choice stallion had a brief stint in Brisbane during the Winter Carnival for a third in the Group 3 $150,000 Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben followed by a fourth to Eagle Way in the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm but has been unplaced from three Spring Carnival outings.
Howard Be Thy Name’s latest run saw him finish fifth to Assign in the Group 2 $400,000 Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 8 and will find Wednesday’s assignment a lot easier.
Irish jockey John Allen rode Howard Be Thy Name to victory in the South Australian Derby and will back aboard the four year old looking for another feature race victory, replacing Damian Lane.
Howard Be Thy Name has drawn nicely at barrier three in the nine horse Bendigo Cup field and is on the second line of betting at $3.60 with Ladbrokes.com.au while $2.50 favourite Our Century will jump from barrier four with Katelyn Mallyon in the saddle.
The Robert Hickmott trained Our Century is stepping up in class coming off a last start win in a 2400m BenchMark 84 Handicap at Caulfield on October 12.
English trainer Charlie Appleby is looking for another Country Cup’s win with Francis Of Assisi after Qewy carried the Godolphin royal blue colours to victory in the Group 3 $300,000 Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong last Wednesday.
Geelong Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride on Francis Of Assisi ($7.50) who will jump from gate six.
Francis Of Assisi combined his flat racing with stints over the jumps and was last in the winner’s circle in October 2015 in winning a 3219m Hurdle race at Fakenham in England.
Market order for the Bendigo Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.50 Our Century, $3.50 Howard Be Thy Name, $5.50 Second Bullet, $7.50 Francis Of Assisi, $11 Ferro Nero, Bring Something, $16 Go Dreaming, $41 Blizzard, $51 Desert Samurai.
