Tough ask for Benzini
Kelly McCulloch might have had a hazy view of Ipswich Cup winner Self Sense in the distance in front of her aboard Benzini at the end of that feature, but the Pukekohe jockey’s focus is firmly on turning the tables this weekend.
Self Sense went to the line six and three quarter lengths clear of second-placed Benzini in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) a fortnight ago, but with a 2.5kg swing in the weights in the Adrian and Harry Bull-trained raider’s favour and an unwavering faith in her mount, McCulloch believes she can get square in the Caloundra Cup (2400m) tomorrow.
‘‘The winner was pretty dominant, but his run was good on a track that he wasn’t ideally suited to and he had that big weight,’’ McCulloch said.
‘‘He has to carry a big weight again but at least he’s down half a kilo this time and the other horse goes up a couple of kilos. The winner caught me a bit by surprise. He wasn’t a horse I had put in my top two dangers, so hopefully he might have already had his day.’’
History is against the sevenyear-old gelding Benzini as no horse has carried more than 59kg to win the Caloundra Cup.
The Chris Waller-trained Index Linked eclipsed former New Zealand stayer Shenzhou Steeds’ record of 58kg set in 2012 when he carried 59kg to win two years ago.
Asked whether she believed last year’s Group II Brisbane Cup winner Benzini could handle the task, McCulloch replied: ‘‘I think he can. To my mind, he’s the best horse in the race.
‘‘Self Sense has to rate again and Gai [Waterhouse] has one in there [Supply And Demand] that has won his last two and he looks promising. But Benzini’s such a genuine horse and he’ll try his heart out again.’’
McCulloch will also team up with the Bull-trained William Wallace in the Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at Caloundra, the Darci Brahma four-year-old going into the race on the back of two impressive wins in Queensland.
‘‘He couldn’t have been any more impressive last start. He’s always been a pretty decent horse but he’ll have to be the real deal this weekend.’’