Flemington trainer Glen Thompson is banking on Benagil’s liking for 2000m to produce an improved effort at Caulfield.
Benagil is scheduled to run in the Group 3 Easter Cup on Saturday, the mare’s fourth run back from a spell.
Thompson pointed to Benagil being successful at 2000m in Group 1 company as a three-year-old while she has also been placed twice at Group 1 level, once at 2000m and once at 2200m.
At her most recent test at 2000m, Benagil finished last in the Champions Stakes at Flemington behind Via Sistina last spring.
That race was run on a very heavy track and at the end of her campaign.
While Benagil has yet to place in three runs for the campaign, Thompson said he was happy with how the mare had been performing.
At her most recent assignment, Benagil finished eighth to Treasurethe Moment in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on March 21.
“She’s going really well,” Thompson said.
“Her first run, she wasn’t ready, then in her second run she was a little plain.
“I thought her run the other day was great. Her sectionals were the second fastest of the race where she was back last and ran on.
“She won at the 2000 metres in the Australasian Oaks (at Morphettville), and she got to 2200 metres, running third in the Queensland Oaks.
“I’m thinking getting her back up to 2000 metres, we’ll see an improved run from her.”
Longer term Thompson has not ruled out heading to Queensland for the Winter Carnival, but after Saturday’s Easter Cup is the Mornington Cup (2400m) on April 18.
The Mornington Cup offers a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.
“At this stage she’ll go Easter Cup, Mornington Cup, and if she can win that, then she can go to the paddock and get ready for the spring,” Thompson said.
“It will then all be about one race for her.”
