Zeppa has made just one appearance at the races so far, but the form out of that race well and truly stood up and he can break his maiden at Bendigo this afternoon.
The Foxwedge gelding debuted raced greenly but did hit the line well to finish fourth behind Conceited at Flemington in December, with that horse going on to fill the minors behind Away Game in the Magic Millions Classic.
He’s drawn ideally and gets the services of senior jockey John Allen this afternoon.
This is a big drop in class for Lady Of Flanders and she will take plenty of beating at Bendigo.
The Viking Ruler mare has been a good horse for the Blackiston stable throughout her career and has continued to improve with each effort back from a spell this time, culminating in a credible fifth at Flemington last time out.
John Allen has options from the rails draw and the horse might not be offered a better opportunity to return to winning form.
Éclair Breeze will take good improvement into her second campaign task at Bendigo today, and she is up to winning at a lovely price ($11 at publish).
The three-year-old daughter of Shooting To Win returned several pleasing efforts in metro company last time in, and she ended her preparation in a Listed race.
She did all of her best work late when resuming in BM64 company at Cranbourne, and she has won at this point of her preparation previously.
Express Pass hasn’t been seen at the races since February, but he has typically stepped out in tougher races than this one, and he can make a winning return.
The Wandjina gelding broke his maiden with ease here at only his second career start and continued to perform well as the bar was raised, running third in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes most notably.
His first-up record is good, and he is drawn to receive a lovely run from barrier 4.