“We got the edge, Cochise.”

Training maestro Anthony Azzopardi Anthony Azzopardi is hoping Riggs’ (Mel Gibson) words to Murtaugh (Danny Glover) in Lethal Weapon prove prophetic at Bendigo on Friday night.

Azzopardi has Renegade Cochise (Box 1) – named after a renowned Native American warrior chief of the Chiricahua Apache – and Hunter Fred (Box 8) in the all-male $22,295 Mark Hughes Foundation Listed The Prospector final (425m) – Race 6, 8.47pm.

Ironically, Renegade Cochise (2 from 4) defeated Hunter Fred (3 from 4) by 2.9L in the Listed Pink Diamond Maiden Short Course final at Warragul on June 16.

But in last Sunday’s heats of The Prospector, Hunter Fred saluted in 23.86sec while Renegade Cochise finished second, beaten 0.1L, to the fast finishing Got Attitude in 23.78sec (Best).

WATCH: HUNTER FRED (B1) leads from go-to-whoa in a heat of The Prospector, clocking a classy 23.86sec.

In the all-conquering Jason Thompson kennel, Got Attitude (7 from 12) was runner-up to kennelmate Navarino in the Pink Diamond Rookie Sprinter final.

Got Attitude (Box 4), who is unbeaten in two starts over 425m at Bendigo, could provide Thompson with his second The Prospector.

He won the inaugural 2021 event with Rebellious while Azzopardi trained third placegetter, Substantial.

However, Azzopardi indicated Renegade Cochise is ready to wear the ‘war paint’ and won’t be ‘smoking the peace pipe’ in the chase for a $15,000 ‘gold bounty’.

“He’s had a few niggling problems and was just a run or two short last week. He was a bit of a ‘sitting duck’.”

“He’s had a few niggling problems and was just a run or two short last week. He was a bit of a ‘sitting duck’.

“But he’s a high-speed dog and is perfectly drawn in the ‘red’. And I think a full field will suit him this week.”

Azzopardi is equally buoyant on the chances of Hunter Fred, who he says is “where he wants to be” in the ‘pink’.

“I give him a live chance. He’s right in the race and is a touch stronger than ‘Cochise’. There’ll be no excuses for either one.”

Meanwhile, Thompson also has Tim Zoo – who scored a 23.58sec (Best) ‘KO’ on debut in a heat – in a $10,000 to-the-winner Maiden final (425m) and Listed Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter winner, Transponder (12 from 24) – including seven of his past 10 – in a Mixed 4/5 (425m).

The all-female $22,295 Beanie For Brain Cancer Listed Bendigo Roses final (425m) – Race 7, 9.12pm – looms as an enthralling tussle between Nyali King (Box 1) and Mythical Queen (Box 2).

Only 1L separated them on heat-winning times – Nyali King (23.82sec) and Mythical Queen (23.88sec) – as they progressed to the $15,000 to-the-winner final.

Trained by Lisa Delbridge, Nyali King (12 from 21) is three from four over 425m at Bendigo.

WATCH: MYTHICAL QUEEN (B7) reigns supreme in a heat of the Bendigo Roses, semaphoring a smart 23.88sec.

Nyali King – part-owned by star NSW jockey Rachel King – won the Listed Pink Diamond Rookie Short Course final.

Mythical Queen (5 from 9) is prepared by NCAV joint secretary, Sean Lithgow.

‘Team Delbridge’ also has an undeniable chance with Zoha Bale (Box 1) in the $15,250 Made Solutions Bendigo Winter Cup final (660m) – Race 8, 9.27pm – which carries a $10,000 winner’s purse.

Zoha Bale (10 from 29) – prepared by Lisa’s husband, Mark – was a gallant second, beaten 2.5L, to fastest heat winner Zambora Charlie in 37.80sec.

Zambora Charlie (12 from 42) is trained by Aimee Drew. He’s drawn in Box 8, from where he’s had 10 starts for five wins.