Trainer Glen Thompson’s world came crashing down when Mike Moroney died earlier in the year.
Thompson was in a training partnership with Moroney, and the pair celebrated the victory of Coeur Volante in a Stakes race at Caulfield just days before Moroney’s death.
Thompson took over full responsibility of the team and produced Banker’s Choice to win the Mornington Cup in April, which gained the stayer a ballot exemption to start in next Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The following week Thompson landed his first Group 1 winner in his own right when Benagil won the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville, but days later he suffered another devastating blow.
Most of the horses Thompson had prepared with Moroney were transferred to the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and J D Hayes, leaving Thompson with a small team to train.
Luckily for Thompson Benagil has remained in his care and the mare makes her return to racing at Caulfield on Saturday in the Listed Weekend Hussler (1400m).
After a gallop at Caulfield earlier in the week, Thompson said he was looking forward to seeing the mare return, then hopefully head to Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“I’m really looking forward to Saturday. She’s come back in good order,” Thompson said.
“She had a decent break up in Queensland after a long preparation last time.
“She didn’t spell as well as I would have hoped, as she’s got a few niggles, but she’s been perfect since she’s been back (at Flemington).
“I’ve tried to keep her sharp enough for the 1400 metres, but my only query is whether she is forward enough first-up.
“I thought Craig (Williams) may have looked after her a little bit too much in her second jump-out. I thought he may have given her a bit more of a hit-out, so that’s the reason we took her to Caulfield on Tuesday morning.
“She had a good hit-out, a good blow afterwards, and hopefully that trims her up and she’ll be right on Saturday.”
Thompson said Benagil had a few aches and pains being a ‘big girl’ which the team can manage through swimming and working on the treadmill.
With a team hovering around the 10 to 12 mark, Thompson is keen to show his wares in Melbourne during Melbourne Cup week rather than take a trip to Sydney for the Golden Eagle.
The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on November 1 is his preferred target with Benagil.
“I would say it’s 95 per cent we’ll be going to the Empire Rose rather than the Golden Eagle,” Thompson said.
“It’s going to be a hell of a lot harder in Sydney, but both races are on the table.
“I’m training in Melbourne and I’m trying to get going, so it would be good to get a Group 1 at Flemington if we could, especially during Cup week.
“At this stage, my head says we’ll be staying in Melbourne, but we’ll have to see how she goes first-up and make a decision off that.”
