Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Prominent syndicator Laurence Eales admits Benedetta (Hellbent) is as exciting as any horse he’s owned. That’s some high praise considering he has enjoyed feature race success with horses including the dual Group 1 winner Whobegotyou (Street Cry {Ire}), the G1 Melbourne Cup hero Shocking, the two-time Group 3 winner Bondeiger (War Pass {USA}) and the Group 3 scorer Chivalry.
Eales believes the lightly raced Benedetta has the world at her feet.
“She’s right up there in terms of the most talented and exciting horses I’ve had. Whobegotyou was a brilliant horse. Look at his record, he won or placed in 24 of his 29 starts and most of them were in stakes class,” Eales told The Thoroughbred Report.
“She’s (Benedetta) right up there in terms of the most talented and exciting horses I’ve had.” - Laurence Eales
“I’ve never had a mare as good as Benedetta, so it’s very exciting.
“She has plenty of ability. She’s only four and she’s only had eight starts. It’s all in front of her.”
The Jason Warren-trained Benedetta chalked up her first stakes win on Saturday, taking out the G3 Cockram S. at Caulfield.
Eales and his fellow owners are understandably eyeing success at the highest level.
“If we can get a Group 1 win that would be fantastic,” he said.
“At the moment we are pretty keen to keep her at 1200 metres or thereabouts, but we may look at stretching her out in distance, over time. We would probably like to see her mature a bit more before we stretch her out in the autumn.
“There’s a few options for her; there’s the Manikato Stakes and the Champions Sprint. We’re just weighing up those options for her for this season.”
Connections of Benedetta after winning the G3 Cockram S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Eales admits he was impressed by the then-filly, who was offered at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by Mill Park Stud as Lot 437, but knew she would take time. He was prepared to be patient with her and when the bidding ended at $75,000 he was rapt with his purchase.
“She was a bit underdone at the sale when I inspected her and late maturing, hence I was able to get her for the price I did. It was a good price,” Eales explained.
“I liked her pedigree and her type. She was well-balanced and I knew there was plenty of improvement in her. I wasn’t necessarily looking for a Hellbent, although he had a few nice ones getting around. I like Red Ransom on the dam side when I’m buying horses and she has that.
“I liked her (Benedetta’s) pedigree and her type. She was well-balanced and I knew there was plenty of improvement in her.” - Laurence Eales
“I wasn’t expecting her to be a 2-year-old; I bought her and put her out in the paddock for a couple of months. It wasn’t until we broke her in and sent her into Jason’s for her first prep… when she came out after her first prep, I went up and had a look at her in the paddock at Widden Stud in Victoria and I just couldn’t believe how much she had furnished and developed. It was amazing.”
Where it started
Benedetta is from the winning Domesday mare Whatalovelyday and she comes from the family of the Group 1 winners Leica Guv (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}), Light Fantastic (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Pharoah (NZ) (Gold Centre).
Whatalovelyday was purchased for $150,000 by Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBBA) (acting for Brenton and Liz Parker) at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale (Book 1). The mare was offered by Willow Park Stud, in foal to Starspangledbanner.
Benedetta as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The resultant foal from that mating was named Quick Call and she died without getting to the races. The Parkers then opted to send Whatalovelyday to the Yarraman Park resident Hellbent.
“It was just a good match,” Brenton Parker told TTR AusNZ.
“We’ve got half a dozen mares and most years we’ve gone to a first-season stallion with at least one of them. He was the one that year and it’s worked out pretty well.”
“We’ve got half a dozen mares and most years we’ve gone to a first-season stallion with at least one of them.” - Brenton Parker
Whatalovelyday has since thrown a Foxwedge filly named Whatafox and after Blueblood Thoroughbreds/Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $30,000 for her from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, she placed at Group 2 level and won an Echuca maiden.
Following Benedetta, Whatalovelyday produced an Impending filly. She fetched $150,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly was bought by McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the Mill Park Stud consignment. The 3-year-old filly has been named Sunset Dreaming.
Next was a Rubick colt and he made $130,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Again, offered by Mill Park Stud, the colt was knocked down to trainer Henry Dwyer.
Whatalovelyday | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Whatalovelyday also has a King’s Legacy yearling colt on the ground and he has been earmarked for the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The mare missed last season, before being served by Hellbent on Tuesday.
“She had six in a row and then missed last season. She was covered (on Tuesday) by Hellbent, so hopefully that goes positively. We thought we would go back to him and see if we can replicate it,” Parker explained.
“We thought we would go back to him (Hellbent with Whatalovelyday) and see if we can replicate it (Benedetta).” - Brenton Parker
The Parkers retained a share in Benedetta and, like Eales, they too are excited about her future.
“Hopefully she can win a Group 1. I’ve bred a Group 1 winner - Happy Trails - but I’ve never bred and part-owned a Group 1 winner before. If she can do the job, that would be great,” said Parker.
“She looks like being the real deal. She’s got some fighting qualities, which is good.”
