Benjamin's Counties Dash Well Worthwhile

Monday, 16 September 2002 00:00

Tirau studmaster David Benjamin could be excused for suffering from jet lag while he watched his top mare, Elevenses (NZ) (Star Way), win the $30,000 Lion Red Stakes (1400m) at the Pukekohe track on Saturday.

Benjamin had no sooner stepped off an international flight from Singapore on Saturday morning then he was beating a hasty path to the Counties meeting.

Elevenses made the exercise worthwhile for Benjamin with her game win after a torrid home-stretch battle with Ella Sierra.

Benjamin's trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong was part of a New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing promotional group led by chairman Joe Walls.

Benjamin said the trip was very worthwhile and it was timely given the win by NZ-bred Opposing Force in the Sprint Trophy at Penang last Sunday week.

Benjamin knows he has a valuable broodmare prospect on his hands in Elevenses given that she was a Group One winning three-year-old and will be chasing further Group One honours in the $100,000 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham next month.

Elevenses' win at Pukekohe was her first success in 18 months.

Media Release - TNZ