With a $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus up for grabs on the 1000m maiden at Hawkesbury on Thursday there was a very competitive field assembled that included the half-brother to $11.6million earner Private Eye, but he had to settle for second on debut with victory going to an interstate raider.
Trained at the Sunshine Coast by Billy Healey, Zousain gelding Benzou was fourth on debut at Hawkesbury on October 10 and took good benefit from that experience going into his target race.
Ridden by Rachel King, Benzou charged to the line from back in the field and had all the momentum while Private Eye’s half-brother King’s Secret was held up for a run and had to navigate into the clear to challenge.
Racing for the same connections as his famous sibling, the Shalaa (IRE) gelding came up half a length short behind Benzou, but will no doubt find his way to the winner’s circle sooner rather than later.
Benzou was a $90,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Widden Stud draft and is the third winner from four to race from Benella, a placed Not a Single Doubt mare that is closely related to Group winners Doubtland, Villa Verde and stakes-winner Pretty Fast.
Benella has a yearling filly by Supido and foaled again to him this spring producing a filly.
Benzou is the tenth Australian winner this season for Zousain, who stands at Widden NSW at a fee of $27,500.
