New Zealand raider Benzini outstayed a field of Aussie gallopers in the Brisbane Cup 2016 at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday thanks to a gun ride from Kiwi hoop Rosie Myers.
New Zealand raider Benzini scored an upset win in the 2016 Brisbane Cup. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Myers had previous race experience in the Sunshine State for Brisbane trainer Kelso Wood, but was on her favourite horse from back home in this year’s $300,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
“I’m so excited,” Myers said post-win.
“It’s such an honour to be riding against all these great jockeys and to come up trumps is pretty special.
“He’s my favourite horse.”
Prepared at Hunterville by Adrian and Harry Bull, six-year-old Tale Of The Cat gelding Benzini debuted down under a fortnight back at Doomben running a brave third to Real Love in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m).
Darren Weir’s Premier’s Cup winning mare Real Love was favourite in betting to keep the winning streak going in the Brisbane Cup, but could only manage to finish fourth to the upset winner who turned the tables improving second-up in Australia.
Best out of the barriers and straight to the front was the Gai Waterhouse-trained top weight Ecuador coming off the WJ McKell Cup win in Sydney over the same distance from May 28.
Real Love was handy on the outside moving up into second just ahead of Col ‘N’ Lil tucked away in third with Sir John Hawkwood traveling fourth before dropping back to a spot mid-field after settling.
Heading towards the home turn, the David Vandyke-trained JRA Cup runner-up last time out Sir John Hawkwood and his hoop Blake Spriggs started to take off as did Peter Robl’s McKell Cup second placegetter Iggi Pop who moved up to the outside to challenge for the lead.
Ecuador lead the field into the straight from Iggi Pop and the always-honest Chris Waller-trained eight-year-old veteran stayer Junoob.
Racing wide over the closing stages, Meyers and Benzini ($13) raced up to take the lead with 200m to go, holding on to hit the line a neck ahead of Sir John Hawkwood ($6) with Junoob ($14) running well for third.
After his eye-catching Premier’s Cup run two weeks ago, Benzini had more staying power getting up to a mile and a half in the Brisbane Cup in a really tough performance showing he’d come on nicely.
“I tracked Junoob into it, but he didn’t take me as far as I wanted him to,” Myers explained.
“To his (Benzini’s) credit though he fought like a tiger.”
Co-trainer Harry Bull was also thrilled with the Brisbane Cup result, the team managing only about seven horses in the stables back in New Zealand.
“It’s a huge thrill,” he said.
“He’s an awesome horse to train.
“He always tries his guts out.”
Back this year’s Brisbane Cup winner Benzini next campaign should he travel back to Australia at the right price online through Ladbrokes.com.au – the home of Odds Boost!
2016 Brisbane Cup Results & Finishing Order
Eagle Farm Race 6 – 11/06/2016
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | BENZINI | Adrian & Harry Bull | Ms Rosie Myers | – | 3 | 54.5kg | $11 |
| 2 | 5 | SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) | David Vandyke | Blake Spriggs | 0.3L | 2 | 57kg | $5 |
| 3 | 2 | JUNOOB (GB) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 3.3L | 9 | 58.5kg | $12 |
| 4 | 3 | REAL LOVE | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 4.1L | 10 | 58.5kg | $4F |
| 5 | 7 | INDEX LINKED (GB) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 4.3L | 4 | 56kg | $13 |
| 6 | 1 | ECUADOR (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse | Adam Hyeronimus | 4.6L | 12 | 59kg | $7.50 |
| 7 | 11 | ASTRONOMOS (GB) | David Vandyke | Jason Collett | 5.9L | 11 | 53kg | $10 |
| 8 | 6 | PUCCINI (NZ) | Darren Weir | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.1L | 1 | 56.5kg | $7 |
| 9 | 10 | IGGI POP (NZ) | Peter Robl | Sam Clipperton | 6.6L | 8 | 53.5kg | $13 |
| 10 | 4 | RUDY | Helen Page | Tommy Berry | 7.6L | 7 | 57kg | $14 |
| 11 | 9 | JETSET LAD (NZ) | Brian Smith | Paul Hammersley | 8.4L | 6 | 54kg | $71 |
| 12 | 12 | COL ’N’ LIL | Ben Currie | Josh Oliver (a) | 14.4L | 5 | 53kg | $26 |
