2025 Queensland Oaks: Benagil recovered and back on track
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Glen Thompson says Group 1 winner Benagil has recovered well from some minor lacerations when she 'ran up their arses' last start and he feels she is still the horse they all have to beat in Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Benagil is the benchmark for Saturday's Oaks at Eagle Farm, having already won the Group 1 Australasian Oaks in Adelaide and boasting a Group 1 runner-up finish behind superstar filly Treasurethe Moment during the Sydney autumn carnival.
But a spanner was thrown in the works of best laid Queensland Oaks plans when Benagil finished 10th, beaten seven lengths, in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 23.
She pulled up with some cuts on her front and back legs but, after watching her have a spin around Eagle Farm on Tuesday, Flemington trainer Thompson declared his filly cherry ripe for an Oaks (2200m) tilt.
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'Taking out that last run, she has got the best form in the race,' Thompson said.
'She has been racing against the best fillies and she ran second to probably the best three-year-old filly in the country (Treasurethe Moment) three starts ago in Sydney.
'If she brings her A game, I think she's going to be the horse to beat in the Oaks.
'You just need to put a line through her last run.
'She's also going to be a lot better going to the big Eagle Farm track and whatever track conditions she gets won't worry her.'
* 'It jeopardises the Stradbroke': Benedetta back-up gamble
Benagil started the $3.50 favourite in the Group 2 The Roses on May 24 but wasn't a factor behind the David Vandyke-trained Philia, who scored her fourth consecutive victory and rocketed to Oaks favouritism.
But Thompson detailed why it was a total forget run for Benagil.
'Last start was a very messy race, she got back in behind the wrong horses and ran up their arses,' he said.
'She just got dragged out of the race at the wrong time when she needed to be building into the race.
'It was a hard watch and not good to see heading into a Group 1 race.
'She pulled up with a few cuts on her front and back legs, just superficial stuff.
'But she seems really good now and I'm really happy with her heading to Saturday.
'If she can bring her best form to Saturday, she is right in the mix.
'She is better ridden quiet in the second half of the field, back out of trouble.
'We will try to ride her like the best horse in the race and hopefully she shows she is.'
* 'You'll see the best of her Saturday': Vandyke's warning to Oaks rivals
Benagil was the filly who gave Thompson his first Group 1 win in his own right.
He trained in partnership with Melbourne Cup-winning legend Mike Moroney until Moroney's tragic passing in late February.
Originally published as Benagil recovered and back on track for Group 1 Queensland Oaks tilt for trainer Glen Thompson
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