Benedetta lands important Stakes win at Caulfield

Benedetta has ticked off an important Stakes race victory for her future as a broodmare, but trainer Jason Warren says there is a lot of unfinished business remaining.

Having now won six of her eight career starts, Benedetta claimed her first ‘Black Type’ win when successful in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Now Warren is looking to Sydney for the mare’s next start in a bid to add further Black Type to her record in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick in two weeks’ time.

Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, Benedetta ($2.80) registered a half-length victory over the $2.50 Unibet favourite Parisal with Wrote To Arataki ($13) a further 1-¼ lengths away third.

Warren said it was satisfying to collect a ‘Black Type’ win for Benedetta on Saturday.

“It’s very important for her as a mare going forward for her breeding career but let’s hope that that’s well off,” Warren said.

“She’s got better races in store and hopefully on to something a little bit better.

“I know (owner) Laurence Eales likes money, so we’ll probably go towards Sydney and get a hold of some prizemoney up there.

“I think she’s earnt a place in a better race, and I’d say Sydney is probably where we end up.

“There’s a Group 2 race there in a few weeks’ that’ll probably suit her, but just one step at a time as we have her whole career.

“But it’s just nice to get the job done today.”

Benedetta’s victory completed a double for Warren who scored in the opening race with Seb Song.

Warren was not on course to see Seb Song’s victory as he was floating the mare to Caulfield from his Mornington stable.

Also celebrating a double was Stackhouse after his partner Tatum Bull scored earlier in the day on Frigid for trainer John Leek.

“I think we’ll probably go to a nice dinner and have a bottle of champagne which will be quite good as it’s nice for us to both get a winner on a Group 1 day,” Stackhouse said.