Benedetta in first-up Black Caviar Lightning Stakes bid
Trainer Jason Warren is eager to make a strong impression from his new Flemington base when Benedetta lines up in the prestigious Black Caviar Lightning.
Having recently taken over 18 stables formerly used by Mathew Ellerton, Warren wasted no time in preparing his talented mare, giving her a jump-out down the straight ahead of her Group 1 return over 1000m on February 7.
Benedetta produced a solid performance in the five-horse jump-out, finishing third behind upcoming Lightning Stakes rival Traffic Warden, while race favorite Switzerland came home in fifth.
Two other contenders, Espionage and Isthmus, also took part in the trial but were not declared in the final acceptances for Saturday’s feature.
With his primary training facilities at Graebar Park near Mornington, Warren sees the Flemington stables as a valuable addition to his operation, providing better access to straight-course training and top-level racing.
Having not raced at Flemington since last March, when she finished fourth in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), Benedetta has benefited from another look at the course before her return.
“She’s terrific, and I’m really pleased with her,” Warren said.
“She enjoyed the hit-out down the Flemington straight, it was a nice surface for her. She did everything we wanted to see, if not even better.”
Although Benedetta has adapted well to the new surroundings, Warren opted to take her back to Graebar Park for a quieter week leading up to the Lightning Stakes.
The mare thrives on her routine, spending her days in the paddock before being stabled overnight, a setup Warren believes keeps her in peak condition.
“We had done all our lead-up work, so we just wanted to have a nice happy week,” Warren said.
“She enjoys being at the farm and we also had the chance to take her down to the beach on Monday and Tuesday.
“We’ve decided to keep her to her normal race day experience as she travels well, so we’ve kept her at the farm for as long as we can.”
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