Benfica begins his march towards the Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 3 when he runs in Thursday’s Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield.
The Lonhro colt hasn’t raced since he won the Group One T J Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm more than seven months ago.
Trainer Peter Snowden will set Benfica on a similar path to another classy son of Lonhro, Denman, who won the Zeditave first up two years ago.
Denman went on to win the Listed Wellington R C Stakes and the Group Two D’Urban Stakes, both over 1400m at Caulfield before finishing fourth as odds-on favourite in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m).
Darley’s number one rider, Kerrin McEvoy, who rode Denman in those races, comes down from Sydney to ride Benfica who arrived at Snowden’s Flemington stables nearly three weeks ago for the finishing touches of his preparation.
“He’s come back nicely,” McEvoy said.
“He’s a nice horse going to look to get over a bit further, but we’ll hopefully see him perform well fresh.”
Benfica goes into the 1200m Listed race having won three of his five starts and is unbeaten in two first-up outings.
The topweight with 58.5kg under the set weights and penalties conditions, Benfica drew barrier seven and is a $4.20 equal favourite with the Peter Moody-trained Huegill.
The Nikki Burke-trained Unpretentious is at $5.50 with the Mark Kavanagh-trained Pakari Toa at $6.50.
Seven of the 10 Zeditave acceptors are among the 113 nominations for the Australian Guineas (1600m) – Benfica, Specter, Instinction, Adamantium, Mister Milton, Huegill and Unpretentious.
The Snowden stable has seven horses entered for the Guineas including Caulfield Guineas winner Helmet, Galah, Induna and Pied a Terre.
Helmet is set to resume in the Group Three C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18 after jump-outs at Flemington this Friday and at Geelong on February 7.
The Danny O’Brien-trained Adamantium, a $9 chance in the Zeditave, hasn’t appeared since running fifth to Sepoy in the Group One Coolmore Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington last spring.
He won twice at Caulfield during that campaign over 1100m and 1200m.
“He’s a lovely style of colt. He’s a horse we kept to six furlongs in the spring but he’s probably more of a miler,” O’Brien said.
“He ran fifth in the Coolmore but they outsprinted him at the clock tower although he kept coming to the line.
“He’s heading towards the Australian Guineas and the step up to the mile will suit him.”
Mark Zahra sticks with the Elusive City colt who drew well in barrier four.
AAP TURF
