Easter Cup to test Benagil on road to Caulfield Cup dreams

Glen Thompson, the Flemington trainer, anticipates Benagil's preference for 2000m will yield a better performance at Caulfield.

Benagil lines up in Saturday's Group 3 Easter Cup, representing her fourth start post-spell.

The trainer noted Benagil's triumph over 2000m in Group 1 as a three-year-old, plus two Group 1 placings—one at 2000m and one over 2200m.

Her previous 2000m outing saw Benagil finish tailed off in Flemington's Champions Stakes last spring, beaten by Via Sistina.

Conditions were very heavy that day, and it was the final leg of her campaign.

Benagil has not yet hit the frame in three appearances this preparation, but her trainer remains pleased with her efforts.

Latest out, she ran eighth behind Treasurethe Moment in Caulfield's Sunline Stakes (1600m) on March 21.

"She's going really well," Thompson said.

"Her first run, she wasn't ready, then in her second run she was a little plain.

"I thought her run the other day was great. Her sectionals were the second fastest of the race where she was back last and ran on.

"She won at the 2000 metres in the Australasian Oaks (at Morphettville), and she got to 2200 metres, running third in the Queensland Oaks.

"I'm thinking getting her back up to 2000 metres, we'll see an improved run from her."

In the bigger picture, a Queensland Winter Carnival raid remains possible for Thompson, but post the Easter Cup on Saturday, it's the Mornington Cup (2400m) on April 18.

The Mornington Cup grants entry exemption into October's Caulfield Cup (2400m).

"At this stage she'll go Easter Cup, Mornington Cup, and if she can win that, then she can go to the paddock and get ready for the spring," Thompson said.

"It will then all be about one race for her."

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