Promising mare Bennetta will make a long-awaited return to the races in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Trainer Graeme Begg believes Bennetta will perform well first-up in the Sheraco Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Bennetta stamped herself as a filly to watch with three dominant wins in a row at Sydney and the Gold Coast earlier this year, highlighted by a two lengths victory over Ichihara and Dear Demi in the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Although she finished her preparation with disappointing performances in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m), the General Nediym mare gave the impression that she would improve as a four-year-old and be a player in mares’ races during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
Trainer Graeme Begg has had to wait patiently for an appropriate race for Bennetta and believes that she is ready to perform first-up this weekend.
“She has trialed nicely on two occasions leading up Saturday’s race,” Begg told Racing Ahead on RSN.
“She has been in work since the middle of June so she has been waiting to go but unfortunately what they have done is change the structure of the carnival a little bit and this was the first available mares race over 1200m.
“She was ready to run three weeks ago.
“She is in great shape, she has a favorable draw and we expect her to run well.”
Bennetta will jump from barrier one, with young jockey James McDonald on board, and Begg is confident that the inside barrier will suit the Group 2 winner who generally gets back in her races.
“She is a filly that likes to be ridden quietly in the early stages of a race,” Begg said.
“There looks to be good speed with Ichihara and Just A Girl who will run along a bit and there will be a good tempo.”
Begg has not yet decided on the path that Bennetta will take this spring but runs in the Group 3 Golden Pendant Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 28 and the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 5 are both on the agenda before a tilt at the Group 2 Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) on Victoria Derby Day.
