Damian Browne believes Zennista is the benchmark stayer in the Caloundra Cup.

Zennista finished third to Moriarty and Quintessential in the Brisbane Cup which Browne rates as the best form reference for Saturday’s Listed race.

Most of Zennista’s rivals raced in either the Ipswich or Tattersall’s Cup in their lead-up to the Sunshine Coast feature but Browne has doubts about the strength of the form from both races.

“If either Moriarty or Quintessential were in this race they’d start an odds-on favourite,” Browne said.

He rode Quintessential in the Brisbane Cup and had a close-up view of Zennista.

“I was going to go past her like she was tied to the fence but to her credit she didn’t give up at any stage,” he said.

Zennista led in the Brisbane Cup and Browne believes the mare’s ability to make her own luck is another factor in her favour at the Sunshine Coast.

“She set a nice tempo and seemed to enjoy rolling along in the Brisbane Cup and she showed that day she can run a strong mile and a half,” he said.

Browne will cap a productive winter carnival, tinged with frustration, if Zennista wins the Caloundra Cup.

Although he was one of the most successful jockeys in black-type races during the winter carnival, a Group One victory proved elusive.

“Before the carnival I thought I had really good, quality rides and to not walk away with one of the Group Ones is a bit disappointing,” he said.

Buffering’s brave third in the Doomben 10,000 before an equally courageous second to Linton in the Stradbroke still haunt the jockey.

“The Stradbroke was pretty tough to come to terms with and it took a freakish rails run by Nick Hall on Linton to deny him the Group One we all felt he deserved,” he said.