Benzini top weight for 2017 Caloundra Cup

Kiwi stayer Benzini has been allocated the top weight 59.5kg for the Listed $175,000 The Pump House Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Benzini, above, has been allocated the top weight for the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Benzini, above, has been allocated the top weight for the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Adrian and Harry Bull trained Benzini had to lump 60kg in the Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on June 17 when six and three quarter lengths second behind the heavily backed Self Sense.

Self Sense is up 2kg on his Ipswich Cup win with 54kg and will meet Benzini 2.5kg worse off with his 56kg in the Caloundra Cup.

Benzini hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since taking out the 2016 Group 2 $300,000 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm just over twelve months ago and his Ipswich Cup second was his only placing from three starts during the 2017 Queensland Winter Carnival.

Prior to the Ipswich Cup the Tale Of The Cat seven year old had finished fourth at his two previous starts in the Group 3 $125,000 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm on May 27 and in the Brisbane Cup over 2200m at Doomben on June 10.

The David Brideoke trained Self Sense had also been out of the winner’s circle prior to his Ipswich Cup win for an extended period of that stretched back to his win in the 2015 Listed $130,000 Kilmore Cup (1600m) at Kilmore.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Supply And Demand has been handicapped with 55.5kg and will be chasing a hat trick of wins in the Caloundra Cup following two wins at Rosehill over 1800m and 2000m at his last two starts.

Mister Impatience from the Mike Moroney stable is coming of a last start seventh in the Premier’s Cup and has been allocated 54.5kg in the Caloundra Cup.

The rest of the Caloundra Cup nominees have been handicapped on the 54kg minimum and includes Mister Impatience’s stablemate Araldo Junior and the Darren Weir trained Neverland.

Neverland showed plenty of staying ability when trained in West Australia and was runner up in the last two runnings of the Group 2 $500,000 Perth Cup over 2400m at Ascot in January, 2016 and December, 2016.

The Kelvin Hickmott trained War Baby is also showing her liking for the longer distances and after scoring a six and half lengths win in a 2150m BenchMark 80 Handicap at Ipswich on Ipswich Cup, the five year old mare ran a gusty race to finish third behind Rudy and More Energy in the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Mid Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday.

Weights for the 2017 Caloundra Cup (2400m)

# Horse Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 BENZINI Adrian & Harry Bull 1 59.5kg 103
2 SELF SENSE David Brideoake 2 56kg 96
3 SUPPLY AND DEMAND Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 3= 55.5kg 95
4 NEVERLAND Darren Weir 3= 54kg 95
5 MISTER IMPATIENCE (GB) Michael Moroney 5 54.5kg 93
6 EMERALD CITY David Vandyke 6 54kg 90
7 ARALDO JUNIOR (GER) Michael Moroney 7 54kg 86
8 MY DIAMANTINE (NZ) Brian Smith 8 54kg 83
9 WAR BABY Kelvin Hickmott 9 54kg 78
10 PARAGON John Sargent 10 54kg 75
11 TEARS OF JOY Toby Edmonds 11 54kg 74
12 VIVA ESPANA (NZ) Wayne Walters 12 54kg 73
13 I FEEL GOOD John Symons & Sheila Laxon 13 54kg 69
14 CHOYSA (NZ) Wayne Walters 14 54kg 68
15 QABLA Eric Singh 15 54kg 58

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.