Benzini
Grant Peters
Kelly McCulloch will keep the saddle warm for her sister Rosie Myers when the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup winner Benzini has his final hit-out on Saturday ahead of the Gr.1 Longines Hong Kong Vase.
Trainers Adrian and Harry Bull accepted a last minute invitation for the seven-year-old gelding to join a star-studded field at Sha Tin on December 11.
As a result, Benzini is a late entry for the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie with McCulloch booked for the ride with Myers already committed to engagements at Wanganui.
Harry Bull will accompany Benzini to Hong Kong and his father Adrian is looking forward to the stable's first runner in South China.
"It's really exciting and it will be a huge experience for Harry. The horse is well too," he said.
McCulloch, who has won two races on Benzini, said she was happy to fill in for her younger sister at Ellerslie.
"The mile will probably be a bit short for him, but with him going to Hong Kong it was a race that fitted in well," McCulloch said.
In his second run back from his successful Queensland winter campaign, Benzini flashed home for second in the Gr.3 OMF Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie earlier this month.
"It was a huge run. The leader [Saint Emilion] got it all his own way and Benzini made up a lot of ground. It would be nice if he didn't get too far back on Saturday," she said.
Currently equal third on the jockeys' premiership, McCulloch has four chances at stakes level in the next two days. She also combines with the Stephen McKee-trained last-start Ellerslie winner O'Guy in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
At Otaki on Friday, she rides Scapolo in the Listed Chainey's Panasonic Levin Stakes (1200m) and Hello M'Lady in the Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m). - NZ Racing Desk.
Trainers Adrian and Harry Bull accepted a last minute invitation for the seven-year-old gelding to join a star-studded field at Sha Tin on December 11.
As a result, Benzini is a late entry for the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie with McCulloch booked for the ride with Myers already committed to engagements at Wanganui.
Harry Bull will accompany Benzini to Hong Kong and his father Adrian is looking forward to the stable's first runner in South China.
"It's really exciting and it will be a huge experience for Harry. The horse is well too," he said.
McCulloch, who has won two races on Benzini, said she was happy to fill in for her younger sister at Ellerslie.
"The mile will probably be a bit short for him, but with him going to Hong Kong it was a race that fitted in well," McCulloch said.
In his second run back from his successful Queensland winter campaign, Benzini flashed home for second in the Gr.3 OMF Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie earlier this month.
"It was a huge run. The leader [Saint Emilion] got it all his own way and Benzini made up a lot of ground. It would be nice if he didn't get too far back on Saturday," she said.
Currently equal third on the jockeys' premiership, McCulloch has four chances at stakes level in the next two days. She also combines with the Stephen McKee-trained last-start Ellerslie winner O'Guy in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
At Otaki on Friday, she rides Scapolo in the Listed Chainey's Panasonic Levin Stakes (1200m) and Hello M'Lady in the Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m). - NZ Racing Desk.