Bennetta Included In Civic Stakes Field

Talented mare Bennetta will have an excellent opportunity to record her first race win in over a year at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday after she was included in the 2014 Civic Stakes field.

Bennetta will take on a Chris Waller dominated field in the Civic Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Bennetta will take on a Chris Waller dominated field in the Civic Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Bennetta started her autumn preparation with a promising third in the Group 3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and was slightly outclassed in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 26 before returning to her best form with a narrow third in the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.

The General Nediym mare was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 3 W.J Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on June 21, but she was positioned a long way from the leader and was unable to close that gap in the final stages of the race.

Bennetta will jump from barrier seven in the Civic Stakes on Saturday and she is expected to be well-backed to record her first race win since she took out the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

The rising five-year-old will need to be at her best to return to winning form in the Civic Stakes; with leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller holding a strong hand in the Listed event.

Tromso (barrier six), Coup Ay Tee (barrier ten), Tougher Than Ever (barrier eight) and Hidden Kisses (barrier eleven) will all be chasing their maiden wins of their winter preparations, while imported stayers He’s Your Man will be returning to the races for the first time since he finished at the tail of the field in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on February 12.

Darley gelding Generalife will be stepping up to Group level for the first time in his racing career after winning the Gaypark Unite Fruit Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 14, while Gerald Ryan-trained Oakfield Commands is also taking winning form into the Civic Stakes after winning the Winter Dash (1200m) in impressive fashion at Royal Randwick on June 21.

Team Cummings-trained The Peak has had two race starts since returning to the races in June, finishing sixth in the Listed June Stakes (1100m) and sixth in the Winter Dash, but has earned another chance at Group level and he will jump from the inside gate with in-form apprentice Taylor Marshall on his back.

Rounding out the 2014 Civic Stakes field is Gregory Hickman-trained Taxmeifyoucan (barrier five) and experienced mare Capital Commander (barrier two).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.