Heavy tracks and washed out race meetings have left owners and trainers frustrated but the promise of fine weather and an improving track has led to a huge meeting at Scone on Friday.
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One of those many trainers who was struggling to find the right conditions is Greg Bennett and he has opened the barn door by nominating 11 horses and accepting with all of them including four runners in the main race, the Emirates Airlines Benchmark 70 (1400m).
Invienna (apprentice Mikayla Weir), Mercurian (apprentice Adam Sewell), Local Hero (Greg Ryan) and You Are Golden (apprentice Rachael King) will all run in that race while his other runners include Settle The Future (Rachael King) and Mossman’s Gold (Adam Sewell) in the Thoroughbred Events Australia Class Three (1600m).
“It’s going to be a busy day but the meeting is on our door step and providing it doesn’t rain the track will keep improving,” Bennett said.
Invienna will be having her final run before going to the paddock to be prepared for the late spring and summer races.
“I have already sent half a dozen horses out for the same reason but she can have this run first,” Bennett said.
“Everyone is panicking and wanting to write her off after her last two runs but she ran eighth at Randwick on a heavy track then was 12th in a very strong Benchmark 84 at Rosehill.
“She was only beaten five lengths at Rosehill and got going again in the last furlong.”
Bennett welcomed You Are Golden back to his stable by winning with her at Mudgee earlier this month.
Bennett originally trained the mare but she was later went to Tony McEvoy then to David Vandyke before being switched back to him last month.
The mare has won three races, all under Bennett’s care.
Bennett said he would have preferred a 1400 metre race for Mossman’s Gold but with nothing else available settled on the 1600 metres of the Class Three while Settle The Future will appreciate the big drop back in grade after running second last in the McKell Cup and ninth in the Mudgee Cup.
“The McKell was too strong while the track at Mudgee was far too heavy,” Bennett said.
‘He is going to appreciate being back in his own grade on a better track.”
The Robert Davies trained Zadok The Priest steps up in grade in the Benchmark 70 as he aims for his fourth successive win with Andrew Gibbons to again ride him.
The combination has gone from winning a maiden at Muswellbrook on May 22 to a Class One at the same track on June 10 to a Benchmark 60, again at Muswellbrook, on July 1.
Davies is not worried by the step.
“He will handle it,” Davies said.
