GCTC JUL 01 - SON OF BENNY POWERS HOME

By Matthew Grimson | Friday, July 3, 2009

Gold Coast, July 1, 2009.
Maiden Plate (Colts and Geldings - Set Weights). Time: 1-27.53.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True.
1 Son of Benny; 2 Apuckshunubbee; 3 Go Jerry

Jockey Scott Galloway rode a patient race on the Lennie Wheeler trained Son Of Benny keeping the three-year-old towards the rear in the early part, but when he pushed the button on straightening the gelding, who was only having his second start, responded with meaning to surge right past his opposition and go on to score in clear-cut fashion.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Lennie Wheeler: “It’s his first run for me. He hasn’t race for over 12 months. He used to miss the start a bit but I educated him a little at the barriers. He’s improved a lot.

"He wasn’t running with the blinkers this time. I’ve never had the blinkers on since I’ve had him, you know. I don’t really have any plans for him. We’ll just move him through the classes. He’s bred to get over ground.”

Jockey Scott Galloway: “He had an awkward alley, but we were always going to ride him quiet. And just the way the track’s racing at the moment, I think it is going to suit horse getting back and keeping wider in the straight, you know.

"It was a good training effort - he hadn’t raced in 12 months and it’s only his second start today. I think the horse has a bit of a future. He’ll win a few more races. Yeah, I think he could step up to a mile. I think he’ll be quite competitive for the next few runs, for sure.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Son Of Benny): 21.00 steady.
Favourite (Gigandra): 2.60 out to 3.00. Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
All Affair (App J. Brown) was held up for clear running rounding the home turn. Leaving the 200m Sir Stash (T. Treichel) shifted out to improve and in doing so made contact with Kalbo (App M. Hellyer). Gigandra was inclined to lay in under pressure over the final 150m.