Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Australasian Oaks
Flemington conditioner Glen Thompson got the biggest win of his training career when Benagil took out the $1 million Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Thompson recently took over the reins in his own right after his former training partner, New Zealand Racing Hall Of Famer Mike Moroney, passed away in February.
Benagil put the writing on the wall at his previous start when second to Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes during the Sydney carnival.
The daughter of Manhattan Rain appreciated a strongly run race, coming from well back to defeat one of the outsiders, Sweltering and the well supported Polymnia.
"WHAT A QUALITY FILLY."
Benagil wins the Australasian Oaks. The first Group 1 for Glen Thompson as a solo trainer after the passing of Mike Moroney. 😇 pic.twitter.com/NFlLnZXdl9
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) April 26, 2025
Benagil's win was her fourth from 10 starts and took her earnings to more than $1.1 million.
The three-year-old filly was ridden by Mark Zahra.
This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the Australasian Oaks.
1st – BENAGIL (Mark Zahra) I was just smoking the pipe, looking at what was going on. I was very happy with the tempo, and I think if you could have been on any horse at the 600 (metres) was me. I was just jogging. In these staying races, I don't like to disappoint them for too long. You've got to let them go when they're ready to go. I waited until we got them a straight, let her rip, and she had them a long way out and did a good job.
2nd – SWELTERING (Ethan Brown) Outstanding. She was suited by a good speed, she hit a bit of a flat spot around the corner, I just had to guide her through that but when she straightened she stayed on really well and good to get a Group 1 placing.
3rd – POLYMNIA (Jamie Melham) Very good run. If she drew a gate it would've been interesting, she just had a lot of horses stopping in front of her and had to wait and wait for a run, only got out late. If she drew a barrier it would've been very interesting.
4th – CAVITY BAY (Harry Coffey) Super run, we just got held up and crowded around the home bend and it probably cost her running second but I thought she went super and she ran really well.
5th – MOVIN OUT (Ben Melham) Ran well, had to give a big start away from the draw to receive protection from the wind. From the 700 (metres) we found the back of the eventual winner, crept into the race doing no work, probably just the back up within a week but she's a nice mare moving forward.
6th – PELEVECCHIO (Jacob Opperman) She ran well. It was just a matter of finding the gaps at the top of the straight which she did. It was a game effort.
7th – FEMMINILE (Thomas Stockdale) She jumped well, we had her closer today. Ideally I would've liked to have been a pair closer on the back of some better runners but we had to pinch runs where we could. She ran home strong but she'll appreciate the extra 500 (metres) when she gets it.
8th – WOLFESS (Jamie Mott) She gave me a real glimpse of hope there straightening up when she hit the front. Bit immature, blinkers will help her.
9th – COMANCHE MISS (Lachlan Neindorf) Got into a lovely spot from the barrier, relaxed, travelled beautifully underneath me, probably struggled to see out the 2000, needs another prep to develop.
10th – TOO DARN LIZZIE (Blake Shinn) Beaten at the turn, doesn't run 2000 (metres).
11th – BEAUTIFUL JEWEL (Ben Price) It was an honest run. She had a lovely run in transit, just when the pressure came on she probably didn't see out the 2000 (metres), she'll be a lovely miler next time around.
12th – ALL KINDS OF FOLK (Blaike McDougall) Not her day today. She travelled into it like, I thought, the winner, but once I placed her under pressure she just didn't find so hopefully she pulls up okay.
13th – GIORGI (Daniel Stackhouse) Just outclassed.
14th – HORIZONS (Todd Pannell) Just had to go back from the wide gate and she had too big a task.
15th – PHENOM (Rochelle Milnes (a)) Probably just struggled to get that 2000 (metres) today.
16th – CINCH (Celine Gaudray) There's a soundness issue going on there, she's pulled up lame, so I hope the team can get her back.
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