GREG Bennett almost made it four wins in four days at four separate meetings last week but will be chasing one major win in Sydney tomorrow.
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The Scone trainer has Tamworth-owned In A Wink running in the $150,000 Group 3 Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
It is an exciting time for Bennett and the mare’s owners, Errol and Gwen Leicht, who bred the daughter of Tamworth stallion Ready As at their Tamworth property.
“She goes around in the Triscay on Saturday and then Piamimi (last-start Sydney winner) goes around in the Parramatta Cup the week after,” he said.
In A Wink has drawn well, jumping from the five barrier with apprentice Samantha Clenton aboard but unable to reduce In A Wink’s 54kg minimum weight because it is a non-claiming race.
Clenton has been in great form and gave Bennett a huge thrill when she won a “home town” Walcha Cup aboard Pro Consul for him last Friday.
It was the first leg of a weekend treble for Bennett.
He took Invienna and All Summer Long to Sydney for a TAB Highway Handicap last Saturday and won it with All Summer Long, who is raced by former West Tamworth and Tamworth rugby league star Geoff Carr.
Then Bennett went to Mudgee on Sunday and Clenton powered home to a good win with Clearly Innocent.
On Monday Bennett was at Cessnock and almost claimed a fourth win when Lemming was a half length second to the Wayne Seelin-trained Feature in the $15,000 Hygain F&M Benchmark 55 Handicap (1150m).
“I almost finished with four,” Bennett laughed.
He was happy to have found an excuse for Invienna, who finished 10th to stablemate All Summer Long in that Highway Handicap.
“She had a little bit of a virus,” he said of the mare.
“That’s why she didn’t race as well as we’d have hoped.
“We’re treating her now and have advised the stewards.
“She should be right for the Country Championships though.”
He still hopes to have Invienna, All Summer Long, Chivadahlii and Clearly Innocent run in that $100,000 Country Championship Qualifier at Scone on Sunday week.
“The mare (Invienna) is right and the three geldings are all great,” he said.
“We’ve had a gear change with Chivadahlii – put the blinkers back on him and he galloped great.”
“All Summer Long has had quite a few issues from the start,” he said.
“He’s had speed bumps in his way all the way but we think he’s right now too.”
It all adds up to a big day at Scone for the HNWRA Country Championship Qualifier, made even more enticing tomorrow with In A Wink.
“It’s an exciting time for Errol and Gwen,” Bennett said.
