Benzini ready for Brisbane races
Proven Queensland performer Benzini is in good order to further his carnival record.
The Hunterville 7-year-old will return to action in this Saturday’s Group III Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm after the Brisbane weather forced his withdrawal from Saturday’s Doomben Cup won by Sense Of Occasion.
Kiwi contender Sound Proposition trained by Lance O’sullivan and Andrew Scott was unplaced in the race.
‘‘We didn’t want to run him on a heavy track,’’ said owner Adrian Bull, who trains Benzini with his son Harry.
‘‘He’s done well and we’re happy with him.’’
Benzini was in good touch in Brisbane 12 months ago when he ran third in the Premier’s Cup before winning the Group II Brisbane Cup and finished fourth in the Group III Tattersall’s Cup.
The son of Tale Of The Cat has since been sparingly raced and finished sixth in the rich Hong Kong Vase before placings in the New Zealand Stakes and in the Canterbury Gold Cup.
Benzini has been kept up to the mark in Queensland and was runner-up in a trial at Deagon over 1200 metres earlier this month.
Meanwhile, travelling companion William Wallace was unplaced in his Australian debut at Caloundra on Sunday.
‘‘He’s had a couple of little problems, but he seems okay and he’ll have another run or two over there,’’ Bull said.
William Wallace won two of his five starts here and was runner-up in an open handicap at Riccarton before accompanying Benzini to Australia.
On the home front, the dual Groupi winner Nashville continues to race well and he was a solid fifth in Saturday’s Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup off the back of his Marlborough Cup success.
‘‘I thought he went really well. I’m very happy with him and he’ll go to the Wanganui Cup next,’’ Bull said.