Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The Bennett Racing silks, which were established in 2016, have achieved some outstanding success in a short period of time, from early metropolitan victories with Onehundred Percent (Hinchinbrook) through to flag-bearer The Astrologist (Zoustar) placing in this year’s G1 Newmarket H. and the G1 The Goodwood H.
However, the new wave of Bennett Racing gallopers are starting to announce themselves, with dominant debut winner Zou Sensation (Zoustar) stepping out in a highly competitive edition of the Yulong Next Generation Sprinters Final and the well-performed Magnus colt Magnapsin contesting the Taj Rossi Series Final.
A new Sensation
Zou Sensation, who saluted by 2.3l at Murray Bridge last fortnight, will strut his stuff down the famous Flemington straight, and according to Bennett his galloper is more than likely to handle a test that often brings young horses unstuck.
“We’re really excited, he couldn’t have done much more on debut when blowing them away while not really knowing what he was doing,” Bennett told TDN AusNZ.
“He’s a big raw colt that has a fair bit of ability and I reckon the straight will be right up his alley, as the track riders have said he’s gone from a boy to a man since his first run.”
“He’s (Zou Sensation) a big raw colt that has a fair bit of ability and I reckon the straight will be right up his alley...” - Nathan Bennett
While Zou Sensation had shown the Leon and Troy Corstens camp plenty of quality at home, they didn’t envisage the colt scoring in such arrogant fashion at Murray Bridge.
He said the $150,000 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling purchase from the draft of Widden Stud is a ‘dead ringer’ for The Astrologist, which is an exciting proposition considering the 5-year-old gelding has only become better with age.
Zou Sensation when sold as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s was a deadset dead ringer for The Astrologist and still is now, I’ve spoken to stable staff before and they’ve said Troy (Corstens) has asked, ‘What are you doing with The Astrologist? Put him away I didn’t tell you to get him out’,” Bennett said.
“He (The Astrologist) was always a big, gangly horse that didn’t really know what he was doing and this bloke has a similar style about him.”
Magnuses make money
Bennett would be surprised if Zou Senastion’s stablemate Magnaspin produces anything less than a bold performance in the Taj Rossi Series Final, saying the colt has trained on superbly since a luckless second-placing behind Grinzinger Bishop (NZ)(Almanzor {Fr}) last fortnight at Flemington.
The $60,000 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the draft of Maluka Thoroughbreds beat all bar $1.2 million colt, and current G1 Coolmore Stud S. favourite, Doull (Snitzel) home on debut down the straight on May 14.
“I think he’s well over the odds, he should’ve won last start, he got caught in on the rails and Ollie (Damien Oliver) couldn’t get out at an important stage,” Bennett said.
“If he got out he wins the race and is probably a $3.50 favourite on Saturday but he’s been forgotten a bit.”
Magnaspin will relish stepping out to a mile on Saturday, according to Bennett. He described the juvenile as a pretty exciting horse and has outlined some big Group 1 ambitions.
“It looks perfect for him, we’ve set this as a target race for him a while back and think the step up to a mile looks right up his alley,” Bennett said.
“And as this fellow gets out over a bit further he’s going to be an exciting horse, I don’t know whether the Caulfield Guineas might come a bit early but we’ve certainly got our eye on the Australian Guineas.”
Connections of Magnaspin have already eclipsed their galloper's purchase price in prizemoney earnings, which continues to prove the case with countless progeny of Widden Stud's ‘underrated bread and butter stallion’ Magnus.
Magnus | Standing at Widden Victoria
“He (Magnaspin) was a bit backward as a yearling, but he had a really good body on him and you could see that once he grew into himself that he was going to be a really nice mile type of horse,” Bennett said.
“He had a lovely walk on him, very athletic and you don’t see many of the Magnus yearlings making massive money at the sales, so if you can pick through them you can secure a nice horse at good value.”
Bennett backing in Blazerro
Bennett’s strong hand at headquarters will conclude with G2 Sandown Guineas placegetter Blazerro (Pierro) in the TAB Silver Bowl Series Final.
While the mile contest features a host of quality gallopers Bennett is confident the Phillip Stokes-trained 3-year-old can make his presence felt and turn the tables on Jimmy The Bear (Jimmy Creed {USA}) and Cardinal Gem (Choisir), who both narrowly had his measure on resumption at Flemington in May.
Blazerro when breaking his maiden at Cranbourne last year | Image courtesy of Bennett Racing
“He’s come back really good, first-up he carried a lot more weight than Jimmy The Bear, Cardinal Gem and Arran Bay and ended up alongside the lot of them,” Bennett said.
“He’s getting big weight swings this time, will be up on pace and has finally drawn a barrier (four) this time, so I’m not sure why he’s $10 in the market.”
Texas suffers tendon tear
Texas Tea (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}), an impressive last-start Flemington winner, had been engaged as race favourite in the Mahogany Challenge Final, however, connections were forced to scratch after the promising Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained stayer suffered a partial tendon tear at trackwork on Thursday morning.
“It’s only a 20 per cent tear, but it’s there, so we’ve had to scratch him and he will be out for a while,” Bennett said.
“He will need to go through a bit of rehab which is unfortunate for everyone because he was a very promising prospect but that’s racing and he will be put away and we’ll look to the future with him.”
Shoot for the stars
The Astrologist, who was last seen finishing third in The Goodwood, has returned to the Corsten's camp from Leneva Park in good order and will be aimed up at the G1 Darley Sprint Classic on Stakes Day.
The Astrologist winning the Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final last year | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Bennett said The Astrologist will kick off down the Flemington straight in September’s G2 Bobbie Lewis S. and could race through to January’s inaugural running of the $1 million The Syndicate, which is exclusive for horses owned by a minimum of 20 individual registered owners and/or syndicate members, from its first race start.
“He did about 10 days up at Leneva Park on the water walker, they do a fantastic job up there and he’s back in work now raring to go,” Bennett said.
Successful sales season
Bennett has been active throughout the past two sales seasons, purchasing 18 yearlings and a handful of imported gallopers this year alone.
While he has been able to sell shares in the vast majority of these acquisitions, he may be required to take a more cautious approach come next year.
Nathan Bennett, Ric Wells and Phil Wells comprise The Bennett Racing Team | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“It’s never easy (selling shares), but we’ve got great support and a good client base behind us now,” Bennett said.
“There’s always a possibility of that (people thinking twice about shares due to rising costs in living), but we will certainly put out an expression of interest and see where people sit, which gives us an idea so we don’t overcommit.”
