Favourite scratched from Cup

Joel Peterson | Bendigo Weekly | 30-Oct-2012

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Pre-race favourite Excluded has been scratched from tomorrow's Bendigo Cup.

The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding topped the weights heading into tomorrow's race at 58kg but has been scratched, and will run in Saturday's group three Lexus Stakes at Flemington.

Stablemate Practiced now moves into favouritism, with Puissance De Lune and Silent Surround the next two favourites with the bookmakers.

Bendigo Jockey Brad Rawiller was slated to ride Puissance De Lune in the cup but was suspended for nine race meetings after an infringement riding at Sale on Sunday.

The Darren Weir-trained five-year-old will now be ridden by Glen Boss, who won Saturday's Cox Plate aboard Ocean Park.

A field of 13 runners will contest tomorrow's race, the same number as last year when the cup was taken out by another Hickmott horse – Tanby.

The $250,000 Bendigo Cup will be held at 4pm tomorrow, race eight of a ten-race card.

 

EARLIER

 

A field of 14 horses are set to run in Wednesday's $250,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup.

Acceptances for the 2400m race came out this morning, with just over half of the 26 nominated runners accepting to run in the race, one more than last year. 

The Robert Hickmott-trained Excluded – who currently sits 48th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry – has been included in the field, topping the weights at 58kg.

However it is under a cloud of doubt, as the gelding is also listed in the field for Saturday's group three Lexus Stakes at Flemington. 

The rest of the field sits between 55 and 54.5kg, with Bendigo jockey Brad Rawiller's mount Puissance De Lune contending with 54.5kg.

Bendigo Jockey Club chief executive officer Ian Hart said the club is happy with the acceptances.

"We're happy with the field, it would be nice to have a few more of the Melbourne Cup hopefuls in, but it will certainly be an interesting race," he said. 

"In terms of the quality, it's probably not as strong as last year but there could be a few horses that in 6-12 months time we may see really improve.

"Puissance De Lune could go anywhere, the Williams horse, Practiced, is very lightly raced and looks strong too, so it will be interesting to see how the race pans out."

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