McCulloch confident Benzini can bridge the gap
JOCKEY Kelly McCulloch might have bitter memories about the last time her and Benzini paired up against Self Sense, but the hoop is confident the duo can turn the tables this weekend.
Self Sense kicked away late to smash Benzini in the Ipswich Cup but the Pukekohe jockey’s focus on atoning rather than dwelling on the past.
The pair will square off again this Saturday at the Sunshine Coast in the Caloundra Cup, and McCulloch is confident that Benzini will put together a better run this weekend.
“The winner was pretty dominant, but his run was good on a track that he wasn’t ideally suited to and he had that big weight,” McCulloch said.
“He has to carry a big weight again but at least he’s down half a kilo this time and the other horse goes up a couple of kilos. The winner caught me a bit by surprise – he wasn’t a horse I had put in my top two dangers – so hopefully he might have already had his day.”
History is against the seven-year-old gelding Benzini as no horse has carried more than 59kg to win the Caloundra Cup.
The Chris Waller-trained Index Linked eclipsed former New Zealand stayer Shenzhou Steeds’ record of 58kg set in 2012 when he carried 59kg to win two years ago, but McCulloch believes Benzini is more than capable of defying history given she rates it as “the best horse in the race”.
“Self Sense has to rate again and Gai [Waterhouse] has one in there [Supply And Demand] that has won his last two and he looks promising.
“But Benzini’s such a genuine horse and he’ll try his heart out again.”