Prominent owner-breeder George Altomonte had a day to savour at Rosehill with Bennetta cementing her carnival prospects with victory in the Group Two Light Fingers Stakes.
Earlier on Saturday, Overreach rocketed into Golden Slipper favouritism when she won the Widden Stakes (1100m) in a cakewalk.
Bennetta winning the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes - Photo by Steve Hart
Starting at $4, Bennetta gave most of her rivals a start but unleashed a withering sprint to claim victory over Ichihara ($6.50) by 1-3/4 lengths with Victorian Oaks winner Dear Demi ($10) another half length third.
“This is a great day,” Altomonte said.
“I was confident about Bennetta because she has been racing well.
“With Overreach I could only go on what Gai (Waterhouse) said.”
Bennetta is trained by Grahame Begg who said she would now head to next month’s Group One Coolmore Classic and perhaps the Doncaster Mile.
“It was good to tick that box,” Begg said.
“It was important for her to be able to win a Group race and it’s upwards from here.”
Bennetta has won her past three starts, going into Saturday’s Light Fingers (1200m) on the back of victory in the $200,000 Magic Millions Quality (1300m) last month.
Her jockey James McDonald said there was plenty to like about her win.
“It was a good effort, a fighting effort,” he said.
“She really had to dig deep and she really showed her fighting qualities.
“There’s plenty of improvement left in her. She’s a filly who just keeps stepping up. I think she’s going to finish as a lovely mare, and when she does she is going to be devastating.”
