Mornington based trainer Jason Warren has the Stradbroke very much in focus as he heads north with his Group 1 winning mare Benedetta, but first, there is no small matter of having to take care of business in the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.
Since winning the $1 million, Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville last May, Benedetta has raced five times, all in Group 1 company … with those results including a third place finish behind Skybird in the Lightning at Flemington and a second place behind Schwarz in $1 million William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Now Warren has Benedetta lining up in the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday in a race in which she is set to renew her rivalry with both Schwarz and the All Aged winner Jimmystar in a big race rematch.
Schwarz had the edge in the William Reid beating Benedetta home by length with Jimmystar finishing the same distance behind Benedetta in third place, while, in the All Aged, Jimmystar came home the winner 2.72 lengths ahead of Benedetta.
Chances are there could again be very little between these three runners come crunch time in what looks to be a highly competitive Doomben 10,000.
So, it is a case of first things for Warren, but then the plan is for Benedetta to tackle the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap on June 14, a race in which she finished eight, 5.40 lengths behind Stefi Magnetica last year, and Warren is hoping a change in Benedetta’s racing schedule compared to that leading into last year’s Stradbroke assignment, with no trip to Adelaide this time around, will serve Benedetta well.
“Rather than going to Adelaide, which was quite an achievable Group 1 in the Sangster, we decided to go to Sydney, so we were halfway to Brisbane,” Warren told Racenet. “She’s in great form and she hasn’t had an overly taxing preparation so far. She’ll go there with fresh legs.”
Benedetta will be ridden by Jamie Melham in the Doomben 10,000.
Melham partnered Benedetta in that Group 1 Goodwood win which is the last time Benedetta saluted.
