New Zealand Cup placegetter Benzini outstayed his rivals to record a tough victory in the 2016 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm this afternoon.
Benzini, green, gold cap, outstayed her rivals to win the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Brisbane Cup was a strangely run affair as a number of horses attempted to make a move without taking up the running, while Benzini followed Junoob in the race before he hit the front the 250 metre mark.
Sir John Hawkwood loomed as the only danger, but Benzini was able to hold him off in the final stages of the Brisbane Cup to record his first ever win at group level.
Jockey Rosie Myers said after the race that Benzini probably hit the front a touch too early in the Brisbane Cup, but she was delighted with the toughness that was shown by her self-proclaimed favourite horse in the final stages of the race.
“I am so excited, it is such an honour to be riding against all these great jockeys and to come up trumps is pretty special,” Myers said.
“We sort of got back a bit because they didn’t go overly quick and we got up and travelling well.
“I tracked Junoob into it and he didn’t take me as far as I wanted him too and he sort of got to the front a little bit too soon, but to his credit he fought like a tiger.
“To be honest I thought he could have been going a little bit faster – he was just whacking away and waiting for something to come up next to him.
“He is my favourite horse.”
The training combination of Adrian and Harry Bull only have seven horses in work and they were clearly delighted to have won a race with the prestige of the Brisbane Cup.
Benzini stamped himself as a potential Brisbane Cup contender with his third place finish in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 28 and Harry Bull said that he always expected the horse to improve on that effort.
“We only have about seven in work, we are farmers by trade, so it is huge for us,” Bull said.
“He had only been here a week and he was always going to appreciate the run.
“His work on Tuesday morning was absolutely sensational and Rosie has been up riding all week.
“I was a bit scared that she had gone a bit early at the 200, but he is an awesome horse to train.
“It is a huge thrill.”
Sir John Hawkwood produced another gallant effort to finish the Brisbane Cup in second place, while pre-race favourite Real Love was a touch disappointing in what could be the final start of her racing career.
