Bennetta, Grahame Begg’s smart Sydney filly who just missed out on a Magic Millions Guineas start at the Gold Coast on Saturday, scored a consolation prize for connections with a win in the Fillies & Mares race putting her in the frame for a Coolmore Classic 2013 bid this autumn.
The General Nediym three-year-old was the last emergency for the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas on the weekend, and while they failed to earn a call up there, they were able to make their mark at the meeting with an impressive victory in the Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Handicap (1300m).
“She would have been in the finish in that [Guineas],” Begg said after his filly’s win.
“The problem they have with that race is that [the order of entry] is done on old form.
“If you have a filly that needs a bit of time you are no chance because they have all won so much prizemoney as two-year-olds.
“It is a [restricted] listed race now and they need to get the in-form horses into the race. I think they need to look at a wildcard, so a filly that is in form like her can make the race stronger.”
Coming off a good December win at Canterbury Bennetta, ridden by James McDonald, overcame barrier 12 of 15 on Saturday and a nasty shift out wide on the turn for home to put an easy two and a half lengths on Playtime to win the $200,000 feature.
“It was only her fifth run today and on facts and figures she wasn’t well in under these conditions against older mares,” Begg said on Saturday.
“But we’ve always had high expectations of her and she’s certainly a filly on the rise with the acceleration she shows.
“That was a very good win but of course we would rather be running in the $1 million race.
“She is a very good filly and she is going to win better races than that.”
She has now won two of her five starts and Begg believes it is onwards and upwards for Bennetta who will head towards the features of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival with the $600,000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 23 as her major aim.
“She’ll be in the paddock on Monday but I really feel a race like the Coolmore Classic will be ideal for her,” he said.
“I really think there are bigger things in store for her.
“She’s not your typical jump-and-run type by General Nediym and I really feel the 1500 metres of the Coolmore will be perfect for her with a light weight on her back.”
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