Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Nathan Bennett – managing director of syndication company Bennett Racing – can’t wait to get up to the Gold Coast to start shopping. The Bundall sales complex at Magic Millions is where, in 2018, the Victorian-based syndication company purchased a Zoustar colt out of the Flying Spur mare Aquada for $150,000 from the draft of Goodwood Farm.
That colt, now a gelding, is The Astrologist, and last Saturday at Ascot in Perth, the 6-year-old landed a rich payday with his win in the G3 The Gold Rush (formerly the AJ Scahill S.).
Connections pocketed a cool $822,000, meaning Bennett has a nice pool of money to spend on some quality youngsters, starting at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from January 10.
Furthermore, another feature race on the Bennett Racing CV enhances the chances of attracting new clients.
“It does give us a great opportunity. It puts that confidence in everyone that we can find these top horses at the sales. The good horses are there, you’ve just got to do the work and you can find them, and you don’t have to pay huge overs for them as well,” Bennett told TDN AusNZ.
“I found that first sale of the year, a lot of clients are on holidays and watching the sale; they’re more into it. When you get later on in the sales season, they’re at work and can’t commit to things as much. There’s always a buzz around Magic Millions, as it’s the first sale of the season; everyone is up and about and ready to go.
“I found that first sale of the year, a lot of clients are on holidays and watching the sale; they’re more into it. When you get later on in the sales season, they’re at work and can’t commit to things as much. There’s always a buzz around Magic Millions, as it’s the first sale of the season; everyone is up and about and ready to go.” - Nathan Bennett
“I’m a little bit behind the eight ball in terms of inspections, but we’ve got a few hands on deck up at the sales complex, so we’ll get through them pretty quickly in the first two or three days and start creating our list. Three or four days into it, we should know where we’re heading and which horses are making our shortlist.”
In January of this year, Bennett Racing spent $2,165,000 on 14 yearlings at an average of $154,640 on the Gold Coast. The business acquired a further seven horses in 2022 (five yearlings and two weanlings) and had little trouble getting them syndicated.
Phill Wells, Nathan Bennett and Rick Wells | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We usually get a bit of expression of interest from our database and then go from there. That gives you a bit of an idea and then once you’ve bought four or five, you’ve got a fair idea of how it’s tracking,” Bennett explained.
“This year, the first six to eight horses we purchased, they were all sold within minutes, so we knew we could keep going. I’d never put myself in a position where I’d go too far and have an uphill battle to sell them.”
Bennett said there is no set number regarding how many yearlings he plans to buy in 2023, but he expects the tally to again be in double-digits.
“This year, the first six to eight horses we purchased, they were all sold within minutes, so we knew we could keep going. I’d never put myself in a position where I’d go too far and have an uphill battle to sell them.” - Nathan Bennett
“It’s probably hard to tell how many we will end up with, but I would think it’ll definitely be at least 10,” he said.
“Maybe with interest rates on the rise, it will be a bit tougher, but we’ll see. If the shares are selling, we will keep buying, if they’re not, we probably pull up stumps and be cautious.”
One of the yearlings in Bennett’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale catalogue that has been highlighted is Lot 1013 – a half-brother to The Astrologist. The bay colt will be offered by Kooringal Stud and is by first-season sire Cliff’s Edge.
Bennett said: “We’ll certainly have a look at him. You’ve definitely got to have a look; if you know the family and the horse ticks all the boxes, you’ve got to try and have a look at trying to buy it as well, but if it doesn’t tick all the boxes, you certainly don’t just buy it due to it being part of the family.
“We have bought a few horses that are half-siblings or full siblings to horses we have and know.
“It’s certainly a good thing to know, especially if they have a good attitude, that sort of thing.”
Zoustar: a love affair
Understandably, given the success of The Astrologist, Zou Dancer – a Group 3 winner, and the stakes-performed Zou Sensation, Bennett is a huge fan of Widden resident Zoustar.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden
Bennett Racing purchased two Zoustar fillies at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, before buying another at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“I definitely love Zoustar. From the day he had his first progeny go through the ring, I was always wanting to buy them,” Bennett remarked.
“I definitely love Zoustar. From the day he had his first progeny go through the ring, I was always wanting to buy them.” - Nathan Bennett
“I loved him as a racehorse.”
That love affair has continued with Zousain – a son of Zoustar who also stands at Widden.
Zousain will have yearlings for the first time at Bundall in January, with 36 lots to be offered.
“I’ve heard pretty good things about them, and there’s a lot of nice ones on the ground,” he said.
Zousain | Standing at Widden
“We’ll definitely be looking at them.
“He ran second to a superstar on Sunlight in the (2018 G1) Coolmore (Stud S.); if she wasn’t there, he’d probably be like a Zoustar.
“I’ve seen a couple on video, and they’ve got a very similar hip as Zoustar, which is a good sign.”
An army of well-related juveniles
None of Bennett Racing’s now-2-year-olds have been to the races, however, that will change on Friday night when Beauty Rising (Deep Field), a filly bought for $160,000 from the Kingstar Farm draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, makes her debut at The Valley.
Beauty Rising as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Phillip Stokes-trained filly is from the dual winning-mare Coral Reef (Galileo {Ire}), who is a half-sister to the Listed victress Chevauchee (High Chaparral {Ire}). Coral Reef has produced, among others, the stakes-performed, five-time winner Miss Moana (NZ) (Uncle Mo {USA}), as well as that horse’s older brother, the Listed placegetter Hollywood Mo.
The filly’s grandam, Chevaleresse (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), is an unraced half-sister to the two-time stakes winner Riyadian (GB).
Bennett expects the filly to make an impression first-up.
“She’s shown a fair bit, she’s trialled very well,” said Bennett.
“I don’t know how far she will go this prep, but I am confident she will run very well on Friday night and be very strong late.”
“I don’t know how far she (Beauty Rising) will go this prep, but I am confident she will run very well on Friday night and be very strong late.” - Nathan Bennett
Another Bennett Racing juvenile that isn’t far from making his debut is Exceed And Collect (Exceed And Excel). Offered by Murrulla Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he realised $90,000.
Exceed And Collect is from the winning Denman mare Winning Valley, making him a half-brother to the seven-time winner Valley Prince (Dissident).
“He is due to trial at Flemington on Friday. He’s doing everything well. He was getting close last prep, but just went a bit colty, so we decided to stop and geld him. He’s come back and he’s now a real professional,” Bennett commented.
And Prinzerro (Pierro) – a $160,000 purchase from the Yulong draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale – won a trial on Tuesday.
Prinzerro as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is from Dongxing Princess (Exceed And Excel) – a two-time winner and half-sister to stakes winners Samara Dancer (NZ) (Hinchinbrook), Eclair Big Bang (NZ) (Savabeel) and Black Sail (NZ) (Savabeel).
“Unfortunately, he’s gone shin-sore, but he’s got some serious ability,” Bennett said.
“I’d say come the autumn we’ll have a fair few of our 2-year-olds pretty close to going to the races.”
A strategic approach
In recent times, the syndication company has targeted a number of international sales – and with great success.
Sibaaq (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who was formerly owned by Shadwell, was purchased from the 2021 Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale for 75,000gns (AU$142,000).
Sibaaq (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“He’s been super; he settled into Australia really well,” said Bennett.
“He had some great tussles with Ellsberg during the spring; he just kept taking it up to him and fighting it out with him.
“I think he’s going to be a nice horse and we’ve got some lofty ambitions for him during the autumn, including the Doncaster.
“I think he’s (Sibaaq) going to be a nice horse and we’ve got some lofty ambitions for him during the autumn, including the Doncaster.” - Nathan Bennett
“If he improves a length, who knows where he ends up? Does he head towards the likes of Cox Plates and things like that?”
Bennett returned to the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in October, buying three lots in partnership with trainer Annabel Neasham, and agent Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock.
They went to 120,000gns (AU$228,000) for Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) – a winning half-brother to the Group 2 winner Saracen Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The stakes-performed Harrow (Ire) (El Kabeir {USA}) fetched 75,000gns (AU$142,000), while the 1400-metre Redcar victor Vintage Choice (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) made 55,000gns (AU$104,000).
Fawkner Park (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“They’re all nice 3-year-olds and can head towards races like the Big Dance and The Five Diamonds Preludes and races like that; they’re all middle-distance horses,” Bennett explained.
“Once Racing New South Wales introduced these new races, we’ve started targeting them by purchasing these 3-year-olds from overseas.
“Races like The Five Diamonds, they just fit in perfectly for these types of horses. Generally, when they do come over here, they do stack up. It’s certainly been a target of ours.”
“Races like The Five Diamonds, they just fit in perfectly for these types of horses. Generally, when they do come over here, they do stack up. It’s certainly been a target of ours.” - Nathan Bennett
Bennett, again in partnership with Neasham and Boman, purchased the half-sister to Sibaaq for 120,000gns (AU$235,000) at the recent Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. The bay filly is by Ten Sovereigns (Ire).
“We had our eye on her for a while and once we did all the work on her at the sale… Stuart Boman was looking right over her for us… we pretty much had to get her.”
“If Sibaaq can improve a length or two and compete in Group 1s, she could become a very valuable filly there.
“If Sibaaq can improve a length or two and compete in Group 1s, she could become a very valuable filly there.” - Nathan Bennett
“The filly is a cracking type and she will head out here on December 28 to head up to Annabel Neasham’s. We’ll let her settle in and go from there.”
A career highlight
Bennett Racing has enjoyed many highs (and lows) since its inception in 2016. Imported gelding Sibaaq ran third in the Big Dance and then second in The Five Diamonds.
Defiant Diva (Dissident) has won four races, including two at Sandown; She Shao Fly (Epaulette) is a Group 3 winner, so too, of course, is Zou Dancer; and Blazerro (Pierro) ran second in last year’s G2 Sandown Guineas behind Blue Army (NZ) (Savabeel).
The Astrologist’s The Gold Rush triumph, however, is the business’ zenith.
“It’s our biggest moment, no doubt. To win nearly $1 million in prizemoney is huge, it’s fantastic,” Bennett said.
“It was unreal, I reckon the horse deserved one to be honest, he’s always been thereabouts in the big ones sort of all fell into place on Saturday and the luck went his way, which was good. Nothing went right for him in the Winterbottom, it all went right this time.”
Making The Astrologist’s victory all the sweeter, Bennett Racing has a three-quarter brother to him on the ground. The foal is by the fledging sire Zousain – a son of The Astrologist’s sire Zoustar – from the winning Commands mare Something Violet.
“It’s our biggest moment, no doubt. To win nearly $1 million in prizemoney is huge, it’s fantastic.” - Nathan Bennett
“It’s pretty exciting,” Bennett commented.
“I’m not too sure what we will do with him, the plan was to put him in a weanling sale somewhere and see what happens, but it would be hard to sell him now. We may end up keeping him; it would be great to see him racing in our colours.
“He’s such a nice horse.
“I may reach out to our clients in The Astrologist and see if they’re interested.
“For now, we’ll just let him grow out and go from there.”
