Cover image courtesy of Bennett Racing
The victory not only kicked off the new racing year in style, but also gives connections genuine hope of Group 1 glory - and of Jimmy Recard developing into a valuable stallion prospect.
The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Bennett Racing Founder Nathan Bennett, who couldn’t be happier with how last season unfolded. However, he explained that the team is always striving for more, and hopes Jimmy Recard (I Am Invincible) can be at the forefront, carrying the now-prominent Bennett Racing silks to even bigger and better things.
Jimmy Recard | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Tough and Tenacious in ‘The Vain’
When asked to describe the tough victory by the Ciaron Maher-trained and Jamie Melham-ridden colt in the G3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday, Bennett commented:
“He was tough as, he has always shown the ability, so it was great to see him put in another great performance.
“He copped a bit of a bump, but it didn’t bother him and he finished off strong and pinned the ears back.”
Jimmy Recard made his debut for connections in the Listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in October last year, but things didn’t entirely go to plan.
“He had shown enough to go into the Listed race on debut, Dec (Declan Bates) actually got off and said that it felt like he was on the winner, but he felt like he may have tweaked a muscle or something, and that was proven the case.
“So we did the right thing and gave him about a 12-week spell, Ciaron put him through the hyperbaric chamber at Bong Bong and looked after him.
“Now we are reaping the rewards. He is three from three in his prep, and hopefully, there is more to come.”
“He is three from three in his prep, and hopefully, there is more to come.” - Nathan Bennett
Since returning from that enforced break, Jimmy Recard has completed a hat-trick with wins at Gosford, Flemington and now Caulfield.
It’s always a good sign when a horse shows enough promise that a syndicator or trainer returns to the sales to buy a close relation. That was the case this year when Bennett Racing secured his full sister, an I Am Invincible filly out of Aquamosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) from the Yarraman Park draft at this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale for $290,000.
Lot 164 - I Am Invincible x Aquamosa (NZ) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We loved his full sister and were lucky enough to pick her up, we thought she was very much a feminine version of Jimmy. We thought he had plenty of ability, so we were happy to buy the sister, and it looks like a pretty good move now.”
As a son of I Am Invincible, a dual-winning juvenile and now a Group 3 winner, Jimmy Recard shapes as a genuine stallion prospect of the future. Bennett is very aware of this, though he remains grounded in his approach.
“It is very exciting, he has the looks and is a really beautiful horse, he has that lovely dark skin on him, and on the finish line from Saturday, you can really see him pinning the ears back and attacking the line.
Nathan Bennett | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Being by Vinnie, he will probably find a home no matter what, but we are confident he can go on with it and become a really attractive stallion prospect. He actually reminded me a bit of Southport Tycoon the other day, albeit a different colour, the way he pinned his ears back and attacked the line just like Southport Tycoon used to do.”
“He actually reminded me a bit of Southport Tycoon the other day.” - Nathan Bennett
What’s ahead for Jimmy in the spring
With a talented colt like Jimmy Recard, who appears to have both sprinting sharpness and the scope to get over further ground, trainer Ciaron Maher has plenty of options.
“The spring is really exciting for a horse like him,” Bennett said.
“I think we will naturally head towards the Coolmore, or there is an option to step up in trip a bit. I will chat with Ciaron shortly, but that seems the natural path. He likely heads to the G3 McNeil Stakes on the 30th at Caulfield, and we can go from there.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“But he is a big, strong horse, and initially I thought he was possibly a Caulfield Guineas type horse; he does look very adaptable. We thought we would run in the Vain and get a bit of a line on how he goes against the good Group sprinters over 1100 metres, but he answered that question pretty easily, didn’t he?
“But he (Jimmy Recard) is a big, strong horse, and initially I thought he was possibly a Caulfield Guineas type horse; he does look very adaptable.” - Nathan Bennett
“He also handles the Flemington straight too, so that is a big tick, he has options, which is exciting.”
The season that was for Bennett Racing
It’s been a breakout season for Bennett Racing, which has set a new benchmark.
“It has been quite a year, and it’s going to be a tough one to replicate. We have had seven individual stakes winners, striking at about 25% stakes performers to runners this season. We only have about 30–35 horse race throughout the year, and about 60 on the books in total, so we are pretty happy with that statistic.
“We got about $6 million in prizemoney and it has clearly been our best season to date. We have raised the bar each season in terms of buying yearlings and trying to build, but it will be very tough to beat this season.”
Southport Tycoon winning the G1 Manikato Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Among the season’s stakes winners were Southport Tycoon winning the G1 Manikato Stakes, along with Zaszou (Zoustar), Stay Focused (Cosmic Force), Snitzanova (Snitzel), Military Tycoon (Written Tycoon), Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), and Baraqiel (Snitzel).
“Every season we have improved, but it is hard to keep doing that, but it is great to start the new season with a stakes winner, and we will keep sticking to our plans and doing what we do.”
The state of syndication
Bennett Racing’s success has translated to a strong position in the syndication space, but Bennett knows how quickly things can change.
“Naturally, in any business, there are going to be ups and downs, and you have to ride the leaner times out and enjoy the good times. We have been lucky with the year we have had, so the selling of yearlings has been solid.
“It has been pretty good. We are in a better place this year than we were this time last year, so that is positive. We have one horse that we have a bit to go on, a nice Farnan, and I think that was the cheapest horse we purchased so it is funny how it works.”
“We are in a better place this year than we were this time last year, so that is positive. We have one horse that we have a bit to go on.” - Nathan Bennett
Success, he says, drives reinvestment and momentum.
“Success means re-investment, and we have had a lot of owners reinvest. We have also had lots of friends of our owners join, which is a great compliment to what we do; it helps you build, and it’s great to see new people getting involved.
“At the moment we seem to be getting it right, Ciaron actually said the other day, just keep doing what you are doing, so Phil (Phil Wells) and I will keep doing that and try to keep buying the right horses.”
One area that had been a challenge in the past was mounting yard access, especially for horses with large ownership groups or many small shareholders. But that’s improving, according to Bennett.
“It’s not a major thing at all, but trying to get owners into mounting yards used to be very problematic, especially if there are a lot of owners in horses.
“It’s not a major thing at all, but trying to get owners into mounting yards used to be very problematic especially if there are a lot of owners in horses.” - Nathan Bennett
“But racetracks and race clubs have been a huge help and want to help you, which is huge for the industry. With Baraqiel, we had about 90 owners for the VRC Sprint, and Flemington looked after us really well. The small shareholders need to know they will get looked after to give them confidence.”
The importance of the social events
The social component of ownership has become a major part of the Bennett Racing model - and a key point of difference.
“We call our owners the Bennett Racing Family; they are like family, and we want everyone to be part of it,” Bennett said.
Bennett Racing owners | Image courtesy of Bennett Racing
“We host lots of functions, and we want to keep building that. We like doing a spring launch where we get the trainers along, which has been positive. This year, we are doing the same, and trying something a bit different and bringing a comedian along, so hopefully that will be lots of good fun and a social occasion.
"These events are something everyone looks forward to and enjoys, so it is an important date in our calendar."
Southport Tycoon’s next chapter
With Southport Tycoon now retired and standing at Widden Stud Victoria, Bennett reflected on what it means to see a former stable star at stud.
“It’s really exciting. A few owners and I have stayed in for a few shares and as a group have bought a few mares.
Southport Tycoon | Standing at Widden Stud
“We have tipped a bit back in. Southport Tycoon looked after us, so we want to try to help him out and get him rolling. There were plenty of people who were impressed by him at the stallion parades last week, and as a dual Group 1 winner, he ticks a lot of boxes.
“He’s a son of Written Tycoon and Ole Kirk is flying at the moment as a son also, wouldn’t it be great if we are talking about Southport Tycoon in 15 years, he was a great horse to us.”
