Benaud looking to build confidence in WJ McKell Cup

Benaud has been consistently competitive against some of Australia’s best horses, but remarkably his only win is in a maiden at Nowra.

Group placed in the Gloaming Stakes at just his second start and runner-up to Hitotsu in the 2022 ATC Australian Derby, Benaud has run boldly against the likes of Anamoe, Fangirl and I’m Thunderstruck.

But the fact remains his lone win came on debut in the country, trainer John O’Shea all but forced to step the then-promising stayer straight up to black-type company due to a lack of alternatives.

“I remember the decision we made when he won a 1400 metre maiden at Nowra and we were trying to find a nice mile, a progressionary race for him to run in, and there was none,” O’Shea said.

“The only race available for him was the Gloaming Stakes. My preference would have been to run him in a class one mile and let him build his confidence and go through his grades.

“He ran a placing in the Gloaming at his second start, so the die was cast after that.”

Despite his strikerate, Benaud has been a wonderful performer for connections, amassing over $560,000 in prizemoney.

But after the gelding’s solid fifth in the Mornington Cup (2400m) in April, O’Shea saw an opportunity to freshen him up and focus on some off-season races with a view to building Benaud’s record and confidence, starting in Saturday’s Listed McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill.

“Coming back at this time of year is more about weaker grade and building some confidence,” O’Shea said.

“He’s had a freshen up off a pretty tough, seasoning campaign with a couple of runs at a mile-and-a-half and his Mornington Cup run was a good run in very good company.

“We just need him to get back to his best and bring his A-game and he’ll be competitive there Saturday. He is well weighted at that level.”

Benaud has 56kg in the McKell Cup and all being well, O’Shea hopes he can progress to the Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 13.

Barn mate Sneaky Shark will continue his comeback for the stable in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1100m) having raced just twice since his placing in the 2021 Karaka Millions as a two-year-old.

O’Shea says the four-year-old is healthy and sound but has been behind the eight-ball in terms of his fitness.

“Because he had so long out, he’s just taken a bit of time to get fit. We trialled him a couple of times and expected more of him first-up, he was disappointing,” O’Shea said.

“But we took him back to the trials and he trialled well so hopefully, with a nice draw, he can acquit himself well on Saturday. He just needs to go racing now.”