SAND JAN 13 - MY BENTLEY MOTORING ALONG

By Scott Gooley | Friday, January 15, 2010

Sandown Hillside, January 13, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - Out 3m entire circuit.
Betfair Handicap (0-78) - 1800m. Time: 1-15.92.
1 My Bentley; 2 Renouncable; 3 Cheronbutch.

My Bentley made it successive wins after claiming the Betfair Handicap (1800m) at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday.

The former New Zealander was having only his fourth start in Australia, since joining the Cranbourne stables of Mick Kent in the latter stages of 2009.

The five-tear-old gelding quickly signalled his potential with a slashing third on debut for Kent at Bendigo in October, followed by another third placing to good galloper Raffaello, during the Flemington Spring Carnival.

After returning from a brief let-up with an impressive Kilmore win in December over a mile, punters were not deterred by the 59kg assigned to him at Sandown and sent him out as $1.90 favourite.

Ridden by Brad Rawiller, My Bentley was allowed to find his feet in the early stages and settled midfield on the rails in the field of fourteen.

With We Wonder and Runaway Combi setting a solid pace in front, the field strung out over plenty of ground and turning for home, My Bentley found himself in ninth position, a dozen lengths off the leading horse.

Sticking to the rails, the son of I Conquer began to lengthen stride nicely when Rawiller asked for his effort.

At the 200m mark, My Bentley took the run between the tiring We Wonder and Sir Walter and confidently set out after leader, Runaway Combi, who was three lengths in advance.

In an impressive final furlong, Mr Bentley passed Runaway Combi at the 100m mark and won going away by one and three quarter lengths.

Renounceable ($8.50) ran second with Cheronbutch ($17.00) third. Runaway Combi held on well for fourth.

Kent confirmed after the race that My Bentley will have one more start before competing in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) in February.

My Bentley is raced by the OTI Racing Syndicate who, in recent years, have figured prominently in some of Australia’s biggest races with Kibbutz (2007 VRC Derby) and Bauer (second in the 2008 Melbourne Cup).

STARTING PRICES:
My Bentley 1.90 (Fav); Renouncable 8.50; Noble Edit 17.00; Runaway Combi 19.00.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Stable representative Mr B Rouge-Serret advised Stewards after the running of Race 1 that the instructions on Bullion Mansion would be to ride the mare mid-field in this event and an announcement was made.

On jumping away Checkaboard Lounge (NZ) and Yasey San came together. Checkaboard Lounge (NZ) was slow to begin. We Wonder (NZ) over-raced in the early and middle stages.
Runaway Combi (NZ) layed in in the straight. Checkaboard Lounge (NZ) lost its off-fore plate during the running of the race.

D Dunn rider of Boom ‘N’ Zoom reported at scale that he expected the gelding to finish the race off due to the quick tempo however was disappointed in its efforts over the concluding stages. A post race veterinary examination of the gelding revealed no abnormalities.