Trainer Grahame Begg believes that classy mare Bennetta is well placed in the Group 2 Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Bennetta is chasing her first victory this preparation in the Yellowglen Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Bennetta has performed well this preparation without breaking through for a victory; finishing fourth in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m), third in the Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m) before an unlucky eighth place finish in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m).
Begg told Racing Ahead that the General Nediym mare had plenty of excuses in the Tristarc Stakes and said that she had come out of the tough run well.
“She got trapped wide and was always in that four wide line,” Begg said on RSN.
“She couldn’t get cover and the race was off and gone.
“Steps In Time ran them along and got a lot of horses out of their comfort zone and on the day you had to be close to the fence.
“She came through her run at Caulfield in good shape and actually had a little jump-out down the straight at Flemington on Friday in the heat that Epaulette was in.
“She handled the straight beautifully and we didn’t do a lot with her; she tucked in behind them and just cruised to the line.
“It was a much slower heat than the one before that Zoustar and Thump were in but Jimmy Cassidy rode her and gave me a good report.”
Bennetta has not entered the winners stall since her impressive victory over Ichihara and Dear Demi in the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes (1200m) but Begg is confident that the four-year-old is an excellent winning chance when she returns to handicap conditions in the Yellowglen Stakes this weekend and is not worried about the drop back in distance to 1200 metres.
“You need a horse that can run a strong 1300m or 1400m to go up the straight,” Begg said.
“We have always thought that this was a nice race for her and she gets some weight relief going back into a handicap.”
The Yellowglen Stakes has drawn a strong set of nominations; with Darley-owned Galah, Gerald Ryan-trained Snitzerland, the speedy Shamal Wind and Caulfield Sprint winner Spirit Of Boom all set to contest the Group 2 event.
