Benzini heads NZ raid

‘‘It was just a leader-dominated race that played against him but he ran really well.’’ Jockey Kelly McCulloch

The Adrian and Harry Bull-trained Benzini heads the Kiwi assault on Australia staying races this weekend.

The 7-year-old Hunterville galloper carries top weight of 60kg for the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m).

Benzini ran fourth in the Group II Brisbane Cup (2200m) won by fellow Kiwi Chocante last weekend and has drawn barrier 10 on Saturday for jockey Kelly McCulloch who was aboard in the Cup.

‘‘His run was really good,’’ McCulloch told NZ Racing Desk.

‘‘They walked then sprinted from the 800m so he was no chance really but he felt awesome and I was really happy with him.

‘‘I’d looked at the field and it appeared there was a lack of pace but I thought they would go harder than they did. But that’s just the way to ride him.

‘‘That’s how he races best. He can do things wrong if you bustle him out of the barriers.

‘‘It was just a leader-dominated race that played against him but he ran really well.’’

The Robert Heathcote-trained New Zealand-bred brother to dual Group I winner Soriano in Kaiser Franz, who won the Premier’s Cup at his penultimate start, has drawn barrier one in the $175,000 race and will be one of the toughest to beat.

Another opponent is the New Zealand-owned Tavistock mare Tessastock who runs for Christchurch owner Kevin Hickman.

She has an opportunity to pick up valuable Australian black-type while under the temporary care of expat trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

The winner of two when prepared by Matamata trainer Graham Richardson, was a winner at her last start on the Sunshine Coast.

The mare is likely to return to New Zealand after Saturday’s run for a spell before being prepared by Richardson and training partner Gavin Parker for a spring campaign at home.

Megablast will make his Australian debut at Moonee Valley on Saturday over 2040m.

The Nigel Tiley-trained 5-yearold gelding resumed with a ninelength victory at Ellerslie over 1600 metres in late May on an extremely heavy track confirming a planned a trip to Melbourne.

Megablast has impressively worked his way through the grades on wet tracks but has also run well on firmer tracks.