Top two choices in Bendigo feature come from same place, different directions

Excelleration and Irish Butterfly are the first two choices in a seven-furlong handicap at Bendigo Racecourse in Australia on Sunday following widely divergent results in recent starts at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne.

Irish Butterfly closed from last of nine to win a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Sandown on Feb. 10 for his third win in 11 career starts.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Excelleration could only manage a seventh-place finish in a field of nine in a one-mile handicap at Sandown on April 5 as the 3-5 favorite, beaten 5 1/2 lengths. A post-race blood test revealed an elevated white blood cell count, indicating a potential illness.

Early betting on Friday for Sunday’s race suggests that Excelleration deserves another chance. A winner of 2 of 4 starts, Excelleration was even-money, while Irish Butterfly was 2-1.

Excelleration has won twice at seven furlongs in his brief career – his debut last November in a maiden race at Terang Racecourse against 13 rivals, and a seven-furlong handicap at Sandown in February in his first start this year.

Irish Butterfly, a New Zealand-bred gelding, had his second start of the year on Feb. 10. His previous wins were at six and seven furlongs. Similar to Excelleration, Irish Butterfly is a danger from off the pace.

The field includes a fascinating import from France in San Fabrizio, who was 8-1 as of Friday. San Fabrizio was 12th in the Group 1 French Derby at Chantilly last July in his fifth and final start in France. His lone win in that span was a one-mile allowance race at Lyon last May.

San Fabrizio is now trained by the partnership of John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne. San Fabrizio’s win at Lyon was his first start in eight months, but the layoff and change of countries for this race suggests the gelding could benefit from a start in Australia.

There are eight races at Bendigo, beginning at 11 p.m. Eastern, or 8 p.m. Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.