$300K FLOP HAS SPRUNG TO LIFE
The wide open spaces of the Flemington straight could ease one fear for Benedetta’s trainer Jason Warren in Saturday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap.
Benedetta was backed from $10 to $7.50 in the Oakleigh Plate but it again proved a bogey race for Warren when the mare never got a clear crack at the leaders in the straight. Benedetta finished less than two lengths from the quinella, Queman and Hypothetical.
The wider Flemington straight was likely to take luck out of the equation for Benedetta.
Winning the Newmarket Handicap will depend on whether Benedetta is good enough to beat star sprinter Imperatriz with the aid of a significant weight pull.
“She was going to the line solidly but she meets a much stronger field in the Newmarket but she gets in well at the weights and she’s better second-up,” Warren said. “She’s probably better at Flemington than she was at Caulfield and I think she probably gets her chance.”
Benedetta is one of 22 Newmarket Handicap nominations. Imperatriz is the highest rated.
COWRA
Race 1: 7 Sensei Jackie $2.90 $1.60 5 Flying Dubawi $1.30 3 Beograd Boy NTD. Q: $2.20. E: $3.80. T: $12.30. A2: F-F: Not won pool jackpots. FIRST 4: (7 5 3 4) $32.60. Scr: 6.
Race 2: 5 Rangatira $4.10 $1.60 8 Shadesofmidnight $4.20 2 Oneofthetwelve $1.30. Q: $25.80. E: $42.50. T: $119.70. A2: 5-8: $7.70, 5-2: $2.10, 8-2: $6.70. FIRST 4: (5 8 2 7) $1,872.90. All Started.
Race 3: 1 Chairman’s List $5.60 $1.90 8 Can Do It $1.10 4 My Girona $2.00. Q: $9.60. E: $21.00. T: $86.70. A2: 1-8: $2.90, 1-4: $4.80, 8-4: $4.10. FIRST 4: (1 8 4 6) $677.80. Scr: 2.
Race 4: 3 Arctic Desert $4.60 $1.60 9 Sworntomymission $2.30 11 Love For Us $5.00. Q: $28.50. E: $70.80. T: $652.60. A2: 3-9: $8.10, 3-11: $13.00, 9-11: $19.70. FIRST 4: (3 9 11 7) $4,157.30. Scr: 1,2,5,10.
Race 5: 1 Destiny’s Bounty $4.40 $1.60 3 Single Attraction $1.80 12 Luscious $7.70. Q: $7.40. E: $17.00. T: $501.80. A2: 1-3: $3.50, 1-12: $32.90, 3-12: $21.50. FIRST 4: (1 3 12 2) $1,317.60. Scr: 4,5,6,7,10.
Race 6: 6 Chaotic Beauty $3.10 $1.50 5 Avalicious $2.20 11 Frau Holle $4.50. Q: $10.00. E: $22.90. T: $206.80. A2: 6-5: $3.40, 6-11: $12.60, 5-11: $13.90. FIRST 4: (6 5 11 8) $935.30. Scr: 2,3,9.
EARLY QUADDIE: 7 Sensei Jackie 5 Rangatira 1 Chairman’s List 3 Arctic Desert $351.30. SUB: 5 2 5 4.
Emerging stayer Zontawah can add to his bank balance and reputation when he steps out for a fourth straight time at his home track at Wagga on Tuesday.
Zontawah was bought at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $300,000.
Originally named Stanhope Gate, the then Kris Lees-trained gelding was beaten 115 lengths in a Wyong barrier trial on July 10.
That same month, he was consigned for sale at the Inglis Online auction, where he was snapped up for a mere $800 by his present owner, who changed his name to Zontawah and handed him to Country Championship Final-winning trainer Gary Colvin.
It’s taken just three starts – all of them at Wagga – for Zontawah to accrue $21,225 in cash and even more in admiration on Colvin’s part.
“I like that little horse, he’s got a bit of a future, I think,” Colvin said.
“I don’t usually go bang and put them in a 2000m race but he is just crying out for 2000m and it’s not overly strong.
“His work has been very good and I am pretty happy with him.”
KEMPSEY
Abandoned
YORK
Race 1: 8 Trigger Finger $2.70 $1.30 2 Le Grand Jeu $2.10 3 Air Tight $3.50. Q: $11.00. E: $17.10. T: $155.80. A2: 8-2: $3.70, 8-3: $7.00, 2-3: $20.30. FIRST 4: (8 2 3 7) $305.80. Scr: 5.
Race 2: 1 Heyfield Boomer $7.10 $2.10 8 Hotlips Lill $4.10 6 Secret Style $1.80. Q: $50.40. E: $94.80. T: $422.30. A2: 1-8: $16.80, 1-6: $5.00, 8-6: $16.20. FIRST 4: (1 8 6 5) $974.40. All Started.