Benzini doing Bull family proud
Benzini has already lifted James Bull’s profile and on Monday the widely-travelled galloper could provide another career-boost for the expatriate Kiwi horseman.
The well-performed eight-year-old has been sent to him by his Hunterville-based father and brother, Adrian and Harry, for a South Australian campaign that opened on an encouraging note.
Benzini finished a solid third in the Gr.3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) behind the New Zealand bred and owned Etah James last Saturday and the gelding will return to Morphettville on Monday for the Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m).
“We were rapt with him, it was a good run and he’s doing everything right,” James Bull said.
“He’s come through it very well, there’s a bit of improvement to come.”
Bull only had a handful of runners before he moved to Australia where he is now plying his trade at Hamilton in Victoria.
“I’m breaking in and pre-training mainly and I’m now starting to get a few horses to train,” he said.
“I was doing the same thing in New Zealand when I was at Awapuni and two years ago decided to give it a crack over here.”
Benzini provided Bull with his first black type runner and, despite being at the top of the handicap and an awkward gate, he looms as a sound chance in Monday’s Cup.
“He’s got the topweight of 60kg and he drew out at 18 so that’s not going to help, but he’s more than capable of being very competitive,” he said.
Rosie Myers will head to Adelaide to continue her successful association with Benzini, which includes a victory in the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m).
They also finished runners-up in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and a meritorious sixth in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m).