Group One performer Benaud will look to build on his stakes-level performances in Saturday’s Listed W J Mckell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
After recording his maiden win on debut in the country, a lack of progressive middle-distance races early in Benaud’s career meant trainer John O’Shea quickly stepped the gelding up to metropolitan stakes level, of which his next 17 starts have come without victory.
However, the connections of Benaud have been rewarded with impressive Group placings in the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and Kingston Town Stakes (2000m), and most notably a runner-up finish to star three-year-old Hitotsu in the 2022 Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m).
“I remember the decision we made when he won a 1400m maiden at Nowra and we were trying to find a nice mile, a progressionary race for him to run in, but there was none,” O’Shea said.
“He ran a placing in the Gloaming at his second start, so the die was cast after that.”
A four-year-old son of Westbury Stud sire Reliable Man, Benaud will step out fresh-up in the Rosehill feature after finishing his previous campaign with a fifth in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on April 22 behind Right You Are.
“He’s had a freshen-up off a pretty tough, seasoning campaign with a couple of runs at a mile-and-a-half, and his Mornington Cup run was a good run in very good company.”
“We just need him to get back to his best and bring his A-game and he’ll be competitive there Saturday. He is well weighted at that level.”
Benaud will have the services of three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy on Saturday, and O’Shea is hopeful a strong performance will lead towards the Listed Grafton Cup (2350m), another strong off-season staying race.
“Coming back at this time of the year is more about weaker grade and building some confidence,” he said.
