Blinkers have reignited the flagging career of My Bentley with the stayer winning his first race in more than 18 months at Flemington.
A former consistent country cups horse, the seven-year-old was impressive bouncing back from a last-start 19-length drubbing in the wet at Sandown to land Saturday’s Swift Signs Handicap (2000m).
With the blinkers on the first time, he was slow to begin but ended up in the perfect spot midfield following the fancied Magnifique Soleil before unwinding his winning run.
Ridden by Luke Nolen, My Bentley scored by 1-3/4 lengths from Langridge Street and perennial placegetter Turnitup.
The win was My Bentley’s sixth in 33 starts and his first since the Ballarat Cup in November, 2010.
In March he finished second in the Kilmore Cup and has also been runner-up in Cranbourne and Bendigo Cups.
“He is probably not as good as he was but if we can win another one with him before he retires we would be rapt,” said trainer Mick Kent.
He said the blinkers had been an important part of his improvement although he had finished just behind the placegetters at Flemington twice last month.
“His last two starts here have been really good but he just got exposed early,” Kent said.
“Today it was all about presenting him at the right time and missing the kick was a help as he ended up in beautiful spot.”
Nolen said that My Bentley’s effort was full of merit carrying 58.5kg.
“When it was there to be won he stuck his head out,” Nolen said.
The defending premier jockey landed an early double at Flemington after also scoring on Peter Moody-trained Aeronwy who beat stablemate Storm Burst in the Chandler MacLeod Handicap.
Nolen, who on Saturday night is booked to fly to England to ride Black Caviar in next week’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes, leads the jockeys’ premiership on 61 winners for the season but will miss the next two city fixtures while overseas.
