Trainer Glen Thompson weighing up Q22 back-up for filly Benagil
Flemington trainer Glen Thompson will make a decision on Wednesday on whether gifted filly Benagil will back up for Saturday's $1.2m Q22 over 2200m at Eagle Farm.
Thompson believes Benagil was unlucky not to win last Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2200m) feature after getting caught behind horses in the straight before making a late charge under Mark Zahra.
She ended up finishing third, less than a length behind the Kris Lees-trained You Wahng and Godolphin's runner Pinito.
'I'll make a decision on Wednesday morning,' Thompson said.
'She's licked the bin out ever since the Oaks and seemed nice and bright this morning (Monday).
'I always had in the back of my mind that if she won (the Oaks) then I'd look at running her in the Q22.
'She should've won so I guess there's no reason not to give her a chance and I don't think it's an overly strong year for it (the Q22).
'Even Mark (Zahra) said she should've won by a length or two. It's frustrating because they're hard races to win and she'll never get another chance in an Oaks again.
'She just needs to give us a sign that she doesn't need to back up.
'She was going to go for a break this week but one more week isn't going to hurt.'
Calling for the win! ðŸ'²
You Wahng takes the G1 Queensland Oaks for @Leesracing and @TommyBerry21! @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/LCfWV2Yfof
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025
It would be hard to knock back a chance to contest the weight-for-age Q22, won last year by Fawkner Park, given the winner's cheque is a massive $720,000.
Thompson said Craig Williams would ride in the Q22 if he decided that the Australasian Oaks winner Benagil would race on Saturday.
'She'll then have five or six weeks in the paddock up here (in Brisbane) and she'll come back for a couple of runs for the tail end of spring,' he said.
Thompson said Benagil would go second-up into the $1m Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 1.
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