Top bets from Ben Dorries for Saturday

Ben Dorries - Saturday September 16

I’ve always had a sweet tooth and a liking for bonbons and I’ll be buying a few packs of the good stuff when So Si Bon gets the chocolates at Flemington.

Advertisement
Ben Dorries is all about the Bonbons at Flemington on Saturday

SO SI BON (Flemington Race 4 No 9)
Robbie Laing reckons So Si Bon might be able to win the Caulfield Cup – so what am earth am I doing backing him in a 1200m sprint? Well, he has been low-flying in his two efforts since resuming and he smashed the clock with his final sectionals last time at Caulfield. He will thrive on the expansive Flemington track and gets in on the minimum with just 53kg. For all his talent he has only ever won a Pakenham maiden but will be flying home here. If he turns in a run anything like his last effort, when the weights were against him, he is the one I want to be on.
BET: WIN
ODDS $8 @ Bet365

AHNDRAS (Doomben Race 8 No 14)
Steps up from three-year-old company to an open class handicap but I’m confident as she’s simply bursting to win and there’s no stars here. Chased home the promising Rancho Montoya last time and only narrowly went down to a horse that at times was being mooted as a Caulfield Guineas contender. Toby Edmonds was at one stage keen to test Ahndras as an Oaks filly last season, but he pulled the pin on that plan after a failure at Doomben over 2030m. Favourite Dreams Aplenty should get an easy enough lead but the final few strides could be a worry for him, while Ahndras will be as strong as an ox late.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $7 @ Crownbet

HARDHAM (Flemington Race 9 No 7)
Been following this tough galloper for a while and that paid dividends when he won the Group II Alister Clark Stakes at double figure odds in the autumn. Also ran a bold third in the Australian Derby so you know he’s got plenty of class and staying ability. Performed well enough when resuming over 1400m at Caulfield and he was just warming up at the end. Goes up an extra 300m here which is ideal. Takes a while to wind him up but Luke Nolen knows his well and I reckon he’s an each-way bet to nothing.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $7.50 @ Crownbet, Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Luxbet

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.