HE might be a weirdo, but now Bennelong can call himself a winner too.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Saturday afternoon at the Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing meeting at Tyers Park, Bennelong took out the Kings Hotel Maiden Handicap (1,100 metres).
In five previous starts for Rosehill trainer Richard Freedman the best the four-year-old gelding had managed was a third, but on Saturday things went his way.
READ MORE: Tulhurst Lover gets away with murder
READ MORE: Hewitt makes it three-from-three at Blayney
READ MORE: Ave enjoys Sydney excursions
With experienced hoop Greg Ryan in the saddle, Bennelong got the job done as the $2.30 favourite.
He led the way into the home straight, kicked, held off a challenge from Stars Galawe ($2.35) and saluted by 0.33 lengths.
“I don’t think he’s much of a sprinter, he probably needs a little bit further, but we had to drop him back to see what he could do because he wasn’t running the distance,” stable representative Alysha New said.
“Greg did get off and say he thinks he needs a bit further now, he had to do a little bit of work to cross them. But we’re happy with him, he’s stepped up through the grade, he’s finally done it for us.
“Now that we’re starting to get through to his head, he might actually get somewhere. Because he’s so quirky and strange we have to play along with his brain and make him think it’s his idea, not yours.”
New said the win was a good reward for the effort and patience shown to the Pentire x Gin City gelding who, despite his issues, still draws affection from those who work with him.
“He’s just a bit special, he’s got quirks and he’s taken a lot of work from Craig – our main track rider – who started him off, and Rachel Hunt, who has been riding him lately,” she said.
“He’s green, a bit horse-shy, he’s a bit of a weirdo to be honest. But as much as he’s strange, we love him, you’ve just got to play to his banter and not upset him.
“He can be a bit of a nervous wreck, so you’ve got to work with him, not against him.”
It was the Michael Plummer, Orange trained Matchfox who got the best of the start on Saturday, but the favourite soon took over.
Ryan had Bennelong leading by 1½ lengths over My Girl Grace at the 600m mark with Stars Galawae travelling outside Matchfox and some three lengths back to the chasing pack.
Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here
Though Stars Galawae challenged down the home straight, Ryan rode Bennelong hard and got him the nod.
While Bathurst trainer Dean Mirfin had to settle for third in that opening race with Great Shine ($31), he did finish the day with a win.
Mathew Cahill rode Jetgirl ($1.40) to victory in the Class 2 Handicap (1,100m), making it the third win of the four-year-old mare’s career.