Benedetta is back in Jason Warren’s Mornington stable as preparations ramp up towards next month’s $750,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
The daughter of Hellbent was turned out after her fourth placing in the $1 million Silver Eagle (1300m) at Rosehill but after several weeks in the paddock, she had three weeks of pre-training at Widden’s Victorian base before returning to Warren.
“She had a good couple of weeks of and trot and cantering, so now we’re into her,” Warren said.
“She had a good amount of condition on her and looks good.”
Benedetta has been shielded from Group 1 racing by Warren to this point with only two of her 10 starts coming at Group level.
The biggest of her six wins came in last year’s Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), while she also finished third in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m).
This campaign will all be all about giving Benedetta the chance to make an impression at the highest level with the $600,000 Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide the other Group 1 that Warren has in mind for her.
“The Sangster in Adelaide is probably her race but, in saying that, we’ve got to earn our place in the race,” Warren said.
“But I do like the idea of a fast-run Oakleigh Plate with no weight on her back.”
The 1100-metre Oakleigh Plate will be run at Caulfield on February 24 with the Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on May 4.