Benfica heads to stud

As a G1-winning son of the reigning Champion sire Lonhro, Mental’s appeal as a stallion prospect is sure to be highly sought after, and when coupled with his attractive fee of $11,000 inc. GST, his appeal is sure to be further amplified.

A winner on his two-year-old debut in December of his juvenile season, Benfica next raced on Boxing Day of that year, finishing in the runner up position behind the extremely speedy Schiffer, who at her next start finished third in the $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast. Spent for a spell after his initial preparation, the Peter Snowden-trained Benfica headed to the Listed Hampden Stakes over 1200m first up in Queensland.

The bay colt trounced his opposition by three-and-a-quarter lengths, recording the largest winning margin in the race since 2002, when three-time G1 winner Yell recorded victory. After an unlucky run at his next start, Benfica headed to the G1 T J Smith Stakes, a race won in the past Pressday (Domesday), Darci Brahma, Outback Prince, Show A Heart, Freemason, Mossman, Mahogany, Slight Chance, Prince Salieri, Zeditave, Zephyr Zip and Luskin Star. Starting the second favourite behind last start G2 winner Hot Snitzel, Benfica proved too good on the day, scoring by one-and-a-lengths, and in the process became the third G1 winner for his sire at the time.

Retiring to stand at Kelvinside alongside his sire, Benfica has the pedigree to match his race performance and impressive looks. Out of the G2-performing Danehill mare Hut, a half-sister to Dalquarren, the dam of G1 winner Neroil; Benfica is bred on the cross that has produced a further six individual Stakes winners for Lonhro; G2 winners Pinwheel and Obsequious, G3 winners Deer Valley and Eight Till Late, as well as the Listed winners Minnesota Shark and Black Minx. As the highest Timeform rated colt by Lonhro of his crop, and the second highest rated of his age by the 11-time G1 winner to date, Benfica’s figure that year rated him the fifth highest two-year-old behind stable mates Sepoy and Helmet, rating the equal of Foxwedge, and significantly higher than the now four-time G1-winning filly Mosheen. As one of two winning colts by Lonhro at stud in Australia, the other being fellow Darley stallion Denman, sending a mare to Benfica will allow breeders to further capitalise on the current success Lonhro is achieving, not only through the deeds of his dual G1-winning son Pierro, but through his excellent Easter yearling sale results, where his 11 yearlings sold, averaged over eight-times their service fee at time of conception.