Trainer Glen Thompson has endured a tumultuous season which has been softened with Benagil providing the Flemington-based horseman with his first Group 1 success.
Under a calculated ride from proven Group 1 jockey Mark Zahra, Benagil took out the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Thompson had at the start of the 2024-25 season joined Mike Moroney in a training partnership having been his assistant trainer since late 2021.
When Moroney died in February, Thompson took over as head trainer of Ballymore Stables at Chicquita Lodge and landed a double at Caulfield, including Benagil in the rich VOBIS Guineas.
But the rug was pulled from Thompson’s feet a fortnight ago when it was announced Ballymore Stables had been absorbed by the Lindsay Park operation of Ben, Will and J D Hayes.
Thompson was thrown a lifeline when given 20 boxes to train out of at Flemington after being lured to Melbourne by Moroney after training previously at Warwick Farm and the Sunshine Coast.
“It’s been a tough few weeks, but I’ve just been trying to focus on today,” Thompson said.
“We got her here in as good an order as we could, and I thought she was spot on today and she raced like it.”
Sent out the $3.10 favourite with betting sites, Benagil scored a 1-¼ length win from $201 outsider Sweltering with Polymnia ($4.60) a short-half-head away third.
Thompson said Benagil had shown loads of ability but had taken it to a new level this time in.
Benagil made it to Group 1 level last campaign, finishing fifth in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield last November and showed she was on track for Saturday’s race by chasing home dual Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on April 1.
“She came back as a three-year-old in the spring and was very unlucky in the Thousand Guineas and those sort of races, and she’s just gone to another level this time,” Thompson said.
“There was a little bit of pressure there to stay in Sydney and run in the Oaks, but this was a much better option for her, and she proved us right today.
“It’s good to get Mark on, he’s one of the best in the land, so I was very lucky to get him on board.”
Thompson said Benagil could head to Queensland for the winter, but first he will see how the filly recovers from Saturday’s outing.
Zahra praised Thompson’s handling of Benagil to have the mare so well turned out on Saturday.
“He’s a great trainer, Glen,” Zahra said.
“He’s had times on his own before and is training by himself now.
“He needs the support, but he’s just done a great job with his filly, and she looked fantastic.
“She’s gone from Melbourne then to Sydney, then back to here.
“It’s a long prep, and you’ve got to be a good trainer to be able to peak every time.
“She looked great today, and she flogged them.”
