The Ciaron Maher stable is banking on a return to Morphettville Racecourse to bring out the best in Benedetta in the April 25 Robert Sangster Stakes (G1). The mare, who will be up for auction at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale next month, made her elite-level breakthrough in The Goodwood (G1) the last time she visited Adelaide's premier course.
Benedetta has not visited the winner's circle since that victory in 2024 for her former trainer Jason Warren, but she has been stakes-placed on three occasions. The most recent of those placings came behind the recently retired colt Tentyris in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1) at Flemington Racecourse, and if she can replicate that performance, Maher's assistant trainer Jack Turnbull believes the mare's pre-post odds of AU$11 might represent excellent each-way value.
"She's been beaten around that 2-length margin in group 1s by some very good horses, and one of them was under handicap conditions," Turnbull said. "We feel she's going super; she just needs to get in the right spot at the right time and as we know, she's good enough. There are no faults with her from our end; she just needs a bit of luck.
"There is some frustration as she hasn't won for a little while, but you look at her form, and she's giving everyone a thrill in some big races. You would love to see her add another group 1 to her page to show she has got longevity as a racing prospect for breeders. She has been solid for us, and hopefully she can get another victory."
Jamie Melham, who was on board in the Lightning, is reunited with Benedetta, with the pair set to jump from barrier 4 in the 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) race.
Getta good feeling Ready for Australasian Oaks
Getta Good Feeling looks to preserve the unbeaten start to her autumn preparation when she strives for her first group 1 success in Saturday's Australasian Oaks (G1) at Morphettville. The pre-post favorite heads into the AU$1 million, 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) contest in outstanding form, having opened her campaign with back-to-back wins in the AU$1 million Inglis Sprint at Flemington and the Alexandra Stakes (G3) over the Caulfield Racecourse mile.
Danny O'Brien deliberately bypassed Sydney's autumn carnival to target the Oaks and, after drawing barrier 5, the in-form trainer grew in confidence that his exciting filly can justify her place at the head of the betting markets.
"She has come back very well this prep," said O'Brien. "Both starts she has won, then she trialed up really well, and this was always her target for the autumn. We specifically didn't get her ready for Sydney because we wanted to have a crack at this race, over 2,000 meters, and everything's gone to plan so far."
O'Brien, who won the South Australian Derby (G1) with Russian Camelot back in 2020, revealed that a trip north to Brisbane to contest the Queensland Oaks (G1) is potentially on the cards for Getta Good Feeling.
"She's fit and well, and I'm sort of half-minded that if she won the Oaks in Adelaide on Saturday, then we'd take her to Brisbane for the Oaks up there," he said. "I thought I'd rather have another run up my sleeve for later, rather than get another one into her now."
