Jason Warren's mouth-watering Stradbroke prospect

By Jordan Gerrans

Victorian trainer Jason Warren has labelled Benedetta’s Stradbroke Handicap weight of 53.5kg as ‘mouth-watering’ ahead of Queensland’s great race next month. 

But, first, the Group 1-winning mare and Warren have other elite-level plans as they target the Kingsford Smith Cup this Saturday ahead of a tilt at the $3 million Stradbroke. 

Despite leading hoop Jamie Melham noting the five-year-old did not appreciate the Heavy 8 surface in the Doomben 10,000 earlier this month, Benedetta still put in a more than credible effort to finish fourth.

She was still deep in the field with 400 metres to travel before finishing strongly and was a tick over a length-and-a-half behind winner Sunshine In Paris when they hit the line. 

Warren believes the effort was of merit ahead of her dual Group 1 assignments.

“She just found Doomben a bit – not so much tight – but it was just heavy for her that day,” the Mornington-based conditioner said.

“Unfortunately, she did not handle that track, but she was very game in defeat. I think with a bigger track on Saturday here at Eagle Farm and a better surface, hopefully we can get a different result.

“This track should be nice and even seeing as they have not raced here for a couple of weeks.

“Jamie Melham reported post-race that she did not handle that track for a single metre, she was chopping and changing her galloping lead and her wheels were spinning pretty much the entire race. Jamie went out looking for better ground. 

"She scouted wide as she just wasn't handling the track. She was changing her galloping lead from left to right, her wheels were spinning, and she just couldn't get traction on that ground.  We are looking forward to Saturday.”

The Doomben 10,000 was the first time she had gone around on a heavy surface.

The mare does boast two wins and two placings from five races on soft ground.

Despite the tough run, Warren was pleased with how she came through the performance. 

“She has really bounced through the run actually,” the trainer said.

“I am really pleased with physically how she has done up here. She was a little bit quiet there for a few days after the 10,000 but she continued to eat well and that is the benefit of having her up here.

“She has really bounced and perked up as the week has gone on.”

The South Australian Goodwood Handicap-winner from 2024 has been in the Sunshine State for close to a month and has been based at Steele Ryan’s Deagon barn. 

The team used the nearby beach for Benedetta’s recovery in the days following the feature Doomben sprint. 

Experienced Queensland-based hoop Dale Smith has done the riding of Benedetta in her work since she has been in the Sunshine State and he took the seat on Tuesday morning around Eagle Farm.

“She really needed Tuesday morning’s work-out and I was really happy with her gallop,” Warren said.

“Dale reported that she really built up underneath him and was really ready to let go and quicken on the bigger track.

"I only really saw 50 metres of her work, but her recovery was excellent and she has a really good healthy glow in her coat. She's in great shape for Saturday." 

The Warren team have put a specific emphasis on Queensland this winter instead of aiming to juggle South Australian features before heading north.

Benedetta was a Sunshine State visitor back in 2024 and had one run during the carnival, placing eighth in the Stradbroke Handicap.

After carrying 54kg in last year's contest, Benedetta has 53.5kg this year, which her trainer says will be perfect.

"It is a delicious weight for her, mouth-watering," Warren said. 

"She's very well weighted in that race and that will be her target should she run well on Saturday.

“It is a really nice weight for her. She will come on again following Saturday. The 1400 metres on a bigger track, that should suit.

“It is obviously a race that we have had on our target and bucket list if we could achieve that.

“We came to the Stradbroke last year as an almost an afterthought but this time around we have come here with fresh legs and a better preparation.”

As of Thursday morning, Benedetta is a $7.50 chance with the bookmakers in Saturday’s Kingsford Smith Cup while she is a $11 hope in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Warren could have another carnival contender head north in the coming weeks.

The Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes over 1300 metres at Eagle Farm on June 14 has been selected as Flyer's goal this campaign and the galloper will go around at Caulfield on Saturday as a steppingstone.

"We've had her entered everywhere and my aim is to take her to Queensland for the Dane Ripper which is run on Stradbroke Day at Eagle Farm," Warren said. 

"But, she will need to win her next start to qualify for a race like that. I wasn't happy with when she came in last prep but she's in great shape now. 

"She just needed a decent surface, which she got last time, and she was able to put a good run back on the board. Hopefully we'll get another good surface for her on Saturday."