Super talented Hellbent mare Benedetta has been knocking on the door of a Group I win and got the job done at Morphettville on Saturday when she had the benefit of a brilliant Jamie Kah ride to arrive on the line and win the $1million Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap (1200m).
The Jason Warren trained Bennedetta has been in the mix in all the elite southern sprints during the autumn finishing fourth in both the Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate and VRC Newmarket Handicap before a last start third in the Group I SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes.
Ridden patiently by Kah, she surged to the lead and hade enough left to hold off classy three year-old filly Stretan Angel to win by a neck with Group I Robert Sangster Stakes winner Climbing Star a close third.
“It was exactly where I wanted to be, everything just happened perfectly for us. She's a horse with so much talent and she's just had things not go her way and today it was lined up perfectly for her,” said Jamie Kah.
Benedetta is in top form and Queensland looms on the horizon with the Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap a target race, but for now Jason Warren is just happy to get the G1 monkey off his back.
"I’m relieved to be honest. Just wanted to get the job done for the horse and she's been so gallant in defeat in good races and just to get that group one under the belt is a big relief and we'll head north now and head towards the Stradbroke,” he said.
"I'm just so pleased for the horse and the connections, terrific."
Benedetta runs in the famous colours of Laurence Eales that were carried by Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and was a $75,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Eales Racing Syndications from the Mill Park draft.
She has the overall record of eight wins from 15 starts with $1.7million in prizemoney.
A half-sister to Group II placed Whatfox and smart winner Sunset Dreaming, she was bred by Brenton and Liz Parker and is the best of three winners from Group II placed Domesday mare Whatalovelyday, who comes from the family of Group I winners Leica Guv, Light Fantastic and Pharoah.
Mill Park sold the current yearling, a colt by King’s Legacy, from Whatalovelyday at Inglis Premier this year for $160,000 to Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock.
Whatalovelyday is due to foal again this spring to Hellbent and there is an opportunity to get into the family at the Magic Millions national Broodmare Sale where Attunga Stud will offer Group II placed Whatafox as Lot 1031 and she is in foal to Blue Point (IRE) in her first season at stud.
Benedetta is the second Group I winner for Hellbent joining dual Group I winner Magic Time and he stands at Yarraman Park this spring at a fee of $38,500.
