There was no more impressive winner anywhere in Australia today than Benaud, as he should be as a G1 placed earner of over $580,000, who had frustratingly forgotten how to win!
Runner-up in the 2022 Group I ATC Australian Derby, the John O’Shea trained Benaud broke his maiden at Nowra in September 2021 and has been winless since despite running some terrific races in tough stakes company.
Dropped back light years in grade to a Class 1 set weights race over 2100m at Wyong he gave Tyler Schiller a trouble free ride when bolting clear to win by six lengths.
A $280,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from the Valachi Downs draft for John O'Shea Racing / Laurel Oak Bloodstock, Benaud is a half-brother to four time Group I winner Tofane and this season’s Group I ATC The Metropolitan winner No Compromise. If he ever gets his mojo together in the right race, he could easily bring up the hat-trick of G1 winners for his dam!
Benaud has a seriously deep pedigree as his dam Baggy Green is a half-sister to Group I winning mares Youngstar and Funstar, who are at stud in Japan and both have their first foals in the upcoming JRHA Sale , read about it here.
Benaud could be a future stakes-winner for Reliable Man, who stands at Westbury Stud at a fee of $13,500.
