SMART three-year-old filly benediction returned to the winner’s circle with a convincing win in the Bullock Consulting Country Guineas at St Marys today.
The Barrie Rattray-trained filly, having her third run this preparation, began safely from the standing start and after travelling outside of the leader for the first 500 metres driver Gareth Rattray took her to the front and from there she was never headed.
Winewomenandsong loomed to challenge in the home straight and at one stage looked set to win but Rattray’s filly found when he asked her for more and went on to win comfortably.
Benediction was last season’s best performed two-year-old filly and from what she’s shown so far this time in she will again be competitive in feature three-year-old races in the coming months.
Benediction (Bettors Delight-Queen Carey) has an imposing record of six wins and five minor placings from 12 starts with her sixth in Hobart last Sunday night when forced to race wide for much of the race her only unplaced effort.