After winning five races in succession, the Gordon Richards-trained three-year-old Benz looked to have found his mark when beaten out of a place at his next three starts.
Making his first start since his fifth behind Morton's Fork in the Group II Sandown Guineas (1600m) on November 12, Benz opened his stakes account under Blake Shinn in Saturday's $150,000 Group III Ladbrokes Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
The son of Bushranger (IRE) defeated Hard Promise (Hard Spun) by three-quarters of a length with the favourite Derryn (Hinchinbrook) a long-neck back in third.(photo Grant Courtney)
"I was a bit worried that he had to do all of the legwork chasing out after those two tearaway leaders but he was strong on the line and he put them away, I was very happy," Richards said.
"I'll go back and get plenty of advice from the owners, but I'll be back somewhere in a couple of weeks."
A $37,000 purchase by his trainer from the D M Bloodstock draft out of book two of the 2015 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling sale, Benz advances his record to six wins from 10 starts with earnings of $280,190.
He is the seventh foal of the unraced Encosta de Lago mare
Benz becomes the second Australian stakes-winner for the former Sun Stud shuttler Bushranger (IRE) after the Listed Tasmanian Derby, Listed Hobart Guineas and Listed Tasmanian Guineas winner Jerilderie Letter.
