Ones to Watch – Bendigo

There were four promising three year-old winners at Bendigo on Thursday and all have been nominated for either the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas or Thousand Guineas.

First to salute was the Anthony Freedman trained Tavistock gelding Tavistock Abbey, who bolted away to win the 1600 metre maiden y by nearly four lengths at his third start.

A $200,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Rich Hill Stud draft for Freedman Racing, Tavistock Abbey might be entered for the Guineas, but connections would also be thinking Derby at some point during this season given his pedigree.

Tavistock Abbey is the second winner for Surreal, a Zabeel full sister to stakes-winning stayer Royal Era from the family of numerous Group I winners including Oaks winners Our Tristalight and Midnight Oil.

The Tavistock x Zabeel nick has produced an impressive 17 winners from 19 runners including four stakes-winners headed by Derby winners Tarzino and Werther.

Promising High Chaparral (IRE) filly Anchor Bid was next to taste success.

The Darren Weir trained filly chased home boom colt Royal Symphony when second in a Listed race at Flemington in July and has now won both her starts since then.

She won this Benchmark 70 event over 1600 metres for fillies carrying 58.5 kg by half a length as favourite and is clearly going places.

A homebred for Jonathan Munz's Pinceliff Racing, she is bred for further as is the previous winner Tavistock Abbey.

Anchor Bid is from Group III winning Zabeel mare Zapurple, who won the SA Fillies Classic over 2500 metres.

Darren Weir saddled the next of our interesting winners with Street Cry (IRE) filly Leather'n'lace scoring her second win from three starts when leading throughout to win over 1300 metres by the best part of a length.

A homebred for David Moodie's Hesket Bloodstock, Leather'n'lace looms as an almost certain future stakes-winner given she's the latest offspring from stellar producer Hard Rider.

The stakes-placed Maroof (USA) mare has left eight winners headed by Group III winner Big Chill as well as stakes-winners Hard Stride and Utah Saints.

Last but not least was progressive gelding Sully, who warranted a news story when he won last start as the first Australian winner for his dashing grey sire Reliable Man (GB).

Prepared by Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin, Sully kept up the good work to score a tenacious short head win against older rivals as favourite and has now won two of four starts.

A $36,000 NZB Select Sale purchase from the draft of Wentwood Grange for BD Racing, Sully is a half-brother to stakes-placed Deedee Panache and is the third winner for Casual Lies (USA) mare Lady Winifred.