Beneteau delivers promise with impressive debut…

Source: Rob Burnet – www.thoroughbrednews.com.au, 26/1/2010

The Australian Jockey Club’s meeting at Randwick on Australia Day was highlighted by the debut of a million dollar yearling from the 2009 Easter Yearling Sale when Beneteau showed that the high purchase price and his early trials promise were not inhibitors to showing considerable potential on the race track.

Beneteau, trained by Paul Messara from his Scone and Randwick stables and ridden by his new apprentice Daniel Ganterton, won the $40,000, Kurnell Maiden Plate (1000m) for the juveniles with compete ease, and creating a new class record in the process of 57.62 on the dead (4) track, beating the previous record of 58.56 set by Samboy on a similar dead track in 2004.

Georgette Silk and Hugh Bowman lead out from the barriers with Ganterton settling outside and that was the pattern to the corner into the straight.

Ganterton was full of confidence on Beneteau and he eased the Redoute’s Choice up to the lead and then with a look over the infield broadcast monitor to check on the others he sent the colt away at the 200m. Beneteau ducked in greenly, but he was well clear of the field, and Ganterton was able to guide him to the line easing up as they went past the line.

The margin as 2 3/4L to Georgette Silk (Flying Spur) who stuck to her task well, with Dreamcoat (God’s Own) coming home well under Glyn Schofield for third, the margin a neck. The final 600m was covered in 34.78. Beneteau paid $2.00 on NSW TAB as favourite.

“He has a great turn of foot and down the track he might be a horse with blinkers or some type of assistance, but at this point in time he is coming along well,” said Messara.

“We will just see how he went today and how he pulls up and we will go from there with no set plans.
“We will have a chat with the owners and decide which way we go,” he said.

Messara had withdrawn another precocious juvenile Hiatus from the listed Arrowfield Blue Diamond Preview over 1000m at Caulfield on Tuesday due to shin soreness becoming evident after a track gallop on Friday.
He commented that both colts were his best two out of some 13 two-year-olds, with the Exceed And Excel colt Hiatus a straight out speedster and Beneteau more of a ‘sit and sprint’ colt.

“Both nice horses,” he commented.

“From the moment I first laid a glove on this horse he just impressed me. He has a lovely nature and a lot of presence about him and gee whiz he has a motor,” said Ganterton.
“He still does not know what he is doing, he is very raw and once he works out where he supposed to put those legs he will be a really exciting racehorse,” he said.
Beneteau had trialled twice at Randwick in preparation for Tuesday’s debut, winning both and the last over 740m on January 15th by 4 1/4L.

Ganterton has just recently transferred to the care of Messara after a chequered time over the past months, and this was the first winner for the stable combination. Messara said that Ganterton divides his time between the Scone and Randwick stables riding work as required for each yard.

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Beneteau and Daniel Ganterton are well clear of the field Picture Sportpix.com.au

Beneteau and Daniel Ganterton return to the mounting yard Picture Sportpix.com.au

Beneteau is out of the Encosta de Lago mare Slice Of Paradise, who is a full-sister to multiple Group One winner Alingi. The colt was bred by Arrowfield Stud who offered him at the 2009 Easter Yearling Sale as agent.

Blue Sky Stallion Fund signed for the colt at $1 million with Arrowfield remaining in the ownership which includes Blue Sky Stallion Fund No 2 Syndicate, Sumaya Stables Syndicate and D A Paradice. The colt earned $26,000 on Tuesday to commence what promises to be an exciting career.