More than 6,500 racegoers are expected at the Bendigo Cup this Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as the regional racing showcase unlocks a five-year public holiday guarantee and local trainer Arthur Pace saddles up Raging Bull in the $500,000 feature.
Grand Final Atmosphere and a Guaranteed Five-Year Public Holiday
Bendigo Jockey Club CEO Paul Scullie has spent the past twelve months coordinating a massive fortnight for the track, which hosted more than 2,500 people for a beach party race day on October 17 before backing it up for Wednesday’s marquee meeting. Club officials are anticipating a crowd upwards of 6,500 attendees, matching last year’s figures with packages selling out across the board (Times News Group).
The club enters its fixture with the confirmation that the Bendigo Cup day public holiday is locked in for another five years. BJC chairman Jack Lyons noted that the endorsement from the City of Greater Bendigo follows a public consultation process and gives the organization stability to cement the fixture as a premier social and racing event (Times News Group).
They had faith in the day and we know this day brings so much to Bendigo and the economy.
Paul Scullie, CEO of Bendigo Jockey Club
Scullie expressed gratitude for the continued support, noting that the local team works tirelessly to prepare for the massive influx of visitors and to maintain the traditions of the club. Sales for hospitality packages proved exceptionally strong in the lead-up to the Wednesday program, mirroring the high demand seen during the previous year’s successful running.
Track Conditions and David Gately’s Betting Strategy for the Nine-Race Card
Racing analyst David Gately heads to Bendigo with specific warnings about track bias as the rail returns to the True position. Following 26mm of rain over the weekend that pushed conditions into the heavy range, track curator Wayne Tucker and his team have brought the course proper to a soft six, with expectations of reaching a soft five or a good four early in the card (Bendigo Advertiser).
So You Are wins the Bendigo Cup 2026 for Rachel King & Bjorn Baker pic.twitter.com/iZSr6B51sp
Gately noted that last year’s corresponding meeting produced a strong advantage for runners racing on the speed and close to the inside rail, making the results of the opening six races critical for punters (The Great Tip Off).
For punters studying the form, Gately highlighted several key selections across the nine-race program. In Race 3, Prestige Lucky is marked as a tentative Best Value Bet at $6 in the 1100m Benchmark 66 event. Later on the card, Cushioned serves as the Best Each-Way Bet of the day in the 1600m Benchmark 70 race, positioned at the top of the analyst’s ratings ahead of Jenni You Think and Kiwi Jenni. Meanwhile, Dirty Look takes top billing as the outright Bet of the Day in the 1300m Benchmark 70.
| Race | Selection | Betting Designation |
|---|---|---|
| Race 3 (#9) | Prestige Lucky ($6.00) | Tentative Best Value Bet |
| Race 5 (#11) | Cushioned | Best Each-Way Bet |
| Race 7 (#3) | Dirty Look | Bet Of The Day |
| Race 8 (#4) | So You Are | Top-Rated in Group 3 Bendigo Cup |
Local Hopes and the $500,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Bendigo Cup Field
The feature $500,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Bendigo Cup over 2400m offers the winner a potential path into the $10 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup the following week (Times News Group). Local trainer Arthur Pace is chasing a hometown victory with Raging Bull, an eight-year-old gelding that finished third in last year’s Cup at 60-1 odds and warmed up for Wednesday by winning the Hamilton Cup on October 10 (Times News Group). Pace aims to become the first local trainer to capture the trophy since Brent Stanley prepared Red Alto to win the 2018 edition from Sutton Grange.
Meanwhile, tipping analysts have highlighted Chris Waller’s Soulcombe—carrying 57.5kg from barrier 4 with jockey Nash Rawiller—as a strong contender requiring a tactical ride from an inside gate (Just Horse Racing). Additional notable entries in the feature include Kings Valley, which comes off a strong performance at Flemington on the quick back-up with Ethan Brown booked to ride, and international raider Starford.