Benedetta gearing up for Stradbroke Handicap challenge at Eagle Farm

Four-year-old mare Benedetta could be one of the names taking place in this year’s Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm. The Jason Warren-trained horse has been booked to fly to Brisbane ahead of the race this June.  
 
Benedetta has one Group 1 win to her name, after winning The Goodwood this May at Morphettville Racecourse. She has not run a 1400m race yet in her young career. Despite this, trainer Jason Warren thinks she is ready for the step up. 

Benedetta delivers for Jason Warren 

Benedetta’s win at The Goodwood on May 11 could not have been bigger for Jason Warren. It was the first Group 1 win of Benedetta’s career and just the second Group 1 victory in the trainer’s long history. His first win was over a decade ago when Bel Sprinter won The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens in 2013.  
 
After Benedetta’s strong The Goodwood performance, Warren revealed that the win “meant a lot” to him and his staff.  
 
“We were knocking on the door getting another one with Brooklyn Hustle and she was unlucky not to land one and then Benedetta was a bit stiff in a couple, but showed she was up to them. So, it was nice to tick that one off,” Warren said. 
 
Benedetta has won eight of her 15 starts, earning over $1.7 million in prize money.  

Benedetta ready for Stradbroke Handicap challenge 

After Benedetta’s The Goodwood win, everyone wondered what was next for the four-year-old. We now know that she’s in line to race in the Stradbroke Handicap this June at Eagle Farm. 
 
Warren revealed this week that a flight for Benedetta to fly to Brisbane has been booked for this Tuesday. The mare has been in Adelaide since her win at Morphettville. 
 
“I left her in Adelaide an extra week just to get over the run. She was over there for seven weeks and it’s good when you’ve got good people looking after your horses for you,” Warren said.  
 
In her 15 starts, Benedetta has never run a 1400m race. Jason Warren doesn’t see that as a problem.  
 
“The 1400 metres is a question mark, but I think she’s looking for it,” he said. “She will get the chance to travel and go through her gears a bit better. She’s had a few runs under the belt now and I reckon she’s looking for a bit further.” 

Jockey undecided for big race 

Jockey Jamie Kah rode Benedetta to victory at Morphettville in the Goodwood. According to Warren, he doesn’t know who will ride his mare at the Stradbroke Handicap.  
 
“She’ll probably get offered half-a-dozen rides in the race,” Warren revealed.  
The Stradbroke Handicap is on June 15th, so thankfully Warren still has some time to find a rider for his rising star.