Trainer Peter Snowden is confident Imvula will handle the step up to 2400 metres for the first time in Wednesday's Bendigo Cup.Snowden was quite satisfied with the Rock Of Gibraltar four-year-old's effort when runner-up by a length to Mandela in the Werribee Cup (2224m) at Geelong on October 29 when having his first run beyond 2000m."It was a solid effort over the 2200 metres and I think he will get the trip alright," he said."He drew pretty badly (11 of 12) in the Werribee Cup which cost him vi
Trainer Peter Snowden is confident Imvula will handle the step up to 2400 metres for the first time in Wednesday's Bendigo Cup.
Snowden was quite satisfied with the Rock Of Gibraltar four-year-old's effort when runner-up by a length to Mandela in the Werribee Cup (2224m) at Geelong on October 29 when having his first run beyond 2000m.
"It was a solid effort over the 2200 metres and I think he will get the trip alright," he said.
"He drew pretty badly (11 of 12) in the Werribee Cup which cost him victory as he had to work to get across.
"Hopefully from the gate tomorrow he'll get a bit more luck in running. He'll race forward and try and get in somewhere."
Vlad Duric will take the ride on Imvula who drew barrier 11 in the $150,000 feature but will jump from gate 10 with the scratching of Courtney.
Trainer Pat Carey said Courtney, who was runner-up to Dandaad in The Lavazza Long Black (2800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, had since had a minor issue and would be spelled.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained Testa Grande has already been scratched after drawing the outside barrier (18).
Imvula, the $3.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, looks the class runner of the field having finished third to Rockwood and Moatize in the Group Three Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick in May.
A winner of three races up to 1600m and placed in another five of his 12 starts, the entire goes into Wednesday's Listed race at his sixth start this preparation.
Among the Sheikh Mohammed-owned galloper's opposition is topweight Captious ($18) who carried 57.5kg when he won last year's Bendigo Cup, 0.5kg more than he'll carry tomorrow.
Trainer Mick Price has put blinkers on Captious who hasn't won in the 12 months since beating Hoodlum and On A Jeune.
With Craig Newitt having a riding stint in New Zealand for Kiwi trainer Mark Walker, Price has opted for Darren Gauci on Captious who drew barrier 16.
Michelle Payne will be trying to emulate her brother Patrick Payne and sister Therese Patton when she rides the Mick Kent-trained Banana Man ($5.50).
Patton won the Bendigo Cup on Flying Eskimo in 1987 while Patrick Payne won the race on Ice Doctor in 1994.
Banana Man is backing up after finishing a solid third to Road To Rock and Ballack in the Chris Isaak Hcp (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Craig Williams has been double-booked for the Robbie Laing-trained pair, Sentire ($26), the 2007 Ballarat Cup (2200m) winner, and Saddler's Story ($10) who was blocked for a run before finishing a last-start fourth in the Werribee Cup.