Benagil to bounce back in the 2025 Queensland Oaks
Benagil’s trainer Glen Thompson had to watch through his fingers as the filly endured a horror run in The Roses (2000m), but he is hopeful she can turn things around in the Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday.
Things went wrong early when Benagil was forced to steady off heels, and she never had clear running turning into the straight. As she began to make headway, she was blocked again, finishing 10th, nearly seven lengths off Philia.
“It was an absolute disaster,” said Thompson.
“She copped it a fair bit. She came back with cuts all over her legs so it wasn’t what she needed two weeks before an Oaks.
“But she seems to be really well now. She had a gallop (Saturday) morning. She seems nice and bright and she’s on track.”
The change from Doomben to the more spacious Eagle Farm circuit is expected to help Benagil’s cause, according to both Thompson and regular jockey Mark Zahra.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to Eagle Farm,” Thompson said.
“Mark was very confident she’d be a completely different horse over the road. She’s just going to need a bit more luck.”
Benagil was a $5.50 bookmakers chance behind $4.20 favourite Philia on Friday.
The card will also include the Queensland Derby (2400m), which was moved from last weekend after the meeting was abandoned due to heavy rainfall.
Statuario, the South Australian Derby runner-up, tops the Derby betting at $6 in what is shaping up to be a wide-open race.
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