New Stakes-Winner for Power

Media Release - Saturday March 20

Less than an hour after lamenting bad luck in one Trentham feature on Saturday afternoon, Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard struck gold in the next one with stable favourite Grand Mayson.

A beaming Lisa Allpress guides Grand Mayson (inner) to victory in the Listed Hardy Trade Supply Company Lightning Handicap (1200m). Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

A perennial placegetter with 13 seconds and thirds through his 26-start career, the six-year-old son of Power produced a scintillating late burst to win the Listed Hardy Trade Supply Lightning Handicap (1200m).

Just 40 minutes earlier, Benner and Wynyard’s last-start Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Bonham overcame a rocky run and charged home for second in the Gr.2 Fusion Electrical Wellington Guineas (1400m).

“Bonham got decked at the start of the Guineas, and she probably should have won the race,” Benner said. “But she’s a very, very good filly, and she ran a massive race today.

“This is a special result with Grand Mayson, who’s become a bit of a stable pet. He’s six years old now and we’ve had him for a while, and if you look through his record, he’s been ultra-consistent all the way through.

“We came into this race thinking that his A-game probably wouldn’t be enough, but maybe, if he brought his A-plus-game, he could be a chance. That’s what he’s done.”

An unlucky second over the same course and distance just seven days earlier, Grand Mayson was patiently ridden by Lisa Allpress in Saturday’s sprint feature. Coming across the junction on to the course proper and into the home straight, the pair still sat at the tail of the 10-horse field.

But Allpress drove Grand Mayson through a gap at the 200-metre mark and sent him into overdrive, rushing into contention within just a handful of strides.

Advertisement

In the last 100 metres, Grand Mayson burst through on the inside of Puysegur and Roch ‘n’ Horse, getting the better of that pair and edging them out in a thrilling three-way photo finish. The time was a rapid 1:07.93.

“Johno said, ‘Whatever you do, just go back, wait, and just wait more,’” Allpress said. “Then I had to try to get him to run and hope to get the splits.

“There were some tense moments, and for a while I was just thinking, ‘Oh well, at least he’s going to run a nice race,’ but then he sprinted really well. He’s a nice horse, and I’m sure he’ll keep going from here.”

Bought for $60,000 by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock at the 2016 Festival Sale at Karaka, Grand Mayson has now had 27 starts for five wins, 13 placings and more than $106,000 in stakes for owner Jen Campin.

“He’s very capable on his day, and he does have a devastating turn of foot,” Benner said. “We had a meeting over coffee this morning (with Allpress) about whether we should try to stick to the inside. He’s the kind of horse who, when you present him outside and he gets there too soon, he has the mindset of, ‘I can’t really be bothered.’ He’s a bit like me, working six days a week!

“But Lisa gave him a beautiful ride and it was a good win. They’ve run a pretty quick time.” – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Hardy Trade Lightning Hcp LR 1200m

Trentham Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:07.93
1
Grand Mayson
- 6g Power (GB) x Java Silk (AUS) (Kashani (USA))
Tnr: J Benner & H Wynyard Rdr: L J Allpress 53
2
0.1
Roch 'n' Horse
- 4m Per Incanto (USA) x Rochfort (NZ) (Cecconi (AUS))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: K Asano 53
3
0.2
Puysegur
- 4m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Pins 'n' Needles (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M J Mc Nab 53
Fastnet Rock
4
0.7
Romantic Lady
- 4m Power (GB) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: S T Collett 53
5
2.0
Johnny Jones
- 8g Pins (AUS) x Raining (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: O P Bosson 57
6
2.4
Live Drama
- 4m Ghibellines (AUS) x Sheeza Drama (AUS) (Pure Theatre (AUS))
Tnr: L M Robinson Rdr: C W Johnson 55
7
3.2
Rock 'n' Affair
- 6m Rock 'n' Pop (AUS) x Stravinskys Affair (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: K Gray Rdr: T L Taiaroa 53
8
3.3
Molto Veloce
- 5m Pins (AUS) x Youtoofast (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 53
9
4.6
Enzo's Lad
- 8g Testa Rossa (AUS) x Sheerama (AUS) (Catbird (AUS))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: J Parkes 60
10
4.9
Kapinos
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Karla Bruni (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: C J Grylls 53.5
More Reading...
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
McGaw Firms For Coolmore Stud Stakes After G2 Danehill Win
Considered an outside chance in betting markets, Emma-Lee and David Browne’s I Am Immortal gelding McGaw dented the reputation of a few leading Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders with a fighting win in the $300,000 Gr2 VRC Danehill Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chris Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.