BENEVAC Dominates Randwick with Brilliant Front Running Display

13 Jul 26

Dynamic Syndications exciting three year old chestnut gelding BENEVAC delivered a dominant front running performance at Royal Randwick on Saturday, producing a commanding 2.84 length victory in the $160,000 Cactus Imaging Handicap over 1100 metres.

Prepared by Australia's premier trainer Ciaron Maher and brilliantly ridden by Sydney's boom apprentice Siena Grima, Benevac was simply never headed, controlling the race from the moment the barriers opened before cruising clear in the straight to record an impressive metropolitan success.

The victory carried significance for Dynamic Syndications, becoming the company's 1,006th Race Win and our 55th Winner of the current season, continuing another outstanding year on the racetrack.

Purchased by Dean and Adam Watt for $140,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the son of exciting young sire Bivouac from the Encosta De Lago mare Houston Benefactor is now proving exactly why he was selected.

Having endured little luck at his previous two starts despite racing in terrific form, Saturday was a richly deserved reward for both horse and connections.

Benevac jumped brilliantly from Barrier 2 and immediately established control of the race. Although he was racing enthusiastically early, jockey Siena Grima displayed remarkable composure, allowing the gelding to relax beautifully through the middle stages before gradually increasing the pressure approaching the home turn.

Turning for home the result was already becoming obvious.

As the field straightened, Benevac travelled strongly to the top of the rise before extending his advantage inside the final 150 metres, leaving his rivals chasing in vain.

The race commentator summed it up perfectly.

"Benevac puts two on them and Siena Grima goes two in front!"

It was a dominant display from a horse that was always travelling comfortably.

The official margin of 2.84 lengths perhaps did not fully reflect his superiority as he was eased down when he stopped the clock at 1:06.23, running his final 600 metres in 36.13 seconds (fastest last 600m of the day) on the testing Heavy 9 surface.

Sky Thoroughbred Central's commentators were full of praise, describing the performance as "always in control," "an easy win," and noting that "Siena did everything right."

Following the race, Ciaron Maher's Sydney stable representative Johann Gerard Dubord explained that Benevac had fully deserved his success after his previous luckless performances this time in.

"He's been going really well. He's been very unlucky not to get the job done his last two starts. He had tough runs and just got beaten, so he deserved that."

Johann was equally complimentary of Grima's ride.

"She's riding really well and did everything right on the horse."

Perhaps the most exciting comments came when Johann looked beyond Saturday's victory.

"He's still doing a few things wrong. Physically he's still fairly immature. He's got a lot of finishing to do. He's a lovely horse and I think there's a lot more to come from him."

Those words should excite every member of the ownership team because they highlight Benevac is still developing and is far from the finished product.

For Siena Grima, the victory was another important milestone in what is becoming a remarkable season.

It was her first winner for the powerful Ciaron Maher stable and formed part of a riding treble at Randwick, extending her lead in the Sydney Apprentices Premiership.

Grima revealed afterwards that the key to victory was helping Benevac settle after his customary fast beginning.

"The main thing was helping him relax early. He jumped like a bullet. I just kept him calm, talked to him, the head came down and he got a lovely breather mid race."

She also praised the training performance that had Benevac perfectly prepared.

"It's an amazing training performance. He's been running really great races and I was glad to get the win."

When asked about the Heavy track, Grima smiled.

"He enjoys these conditions. He felt like he was scooting across the ground."

Now with 2 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from only 10 starts, Benevac has already amassed $290,800 in prizemoney and bonuses, more than repaying his purchase price, with every indication that considerably bigger wins lie ahead as he continues to mature.

Congratulations to trainer Ciaron Maher, Sydney stable representative Johann Gerard Dubord, jockey Siena Grima and, most importantly, our wonderful All Ladies Co Ownership Team who race BENEVAC: Dynamic Ladies Synd (Mgr Mrs F K Watt), Mrs K Coopersmith, Mrs J A Kayess, Mrs C Freeman, Ms J E Mors, Mrs B K Bennell, Mrs P Smith, Dr L Vaughan, Mrs V A Warton, Mrs K J Mitchell, Miss T L McManus and the Segenhoe Ladies Synd.

Congratulations to every owner.

This was a thoroughly deserved metropolitan victory after his two previous runs where luck was against us.

The future looks exceptionally bright for this exciting young son of Bivouac.