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Australia beckons Benzini; Melbourne long-term focus; Weight a worry for Kawi; Wentwood poised for big weekend.

Australia beckons Benzini

Hunterville stayer Benzini is in line for a visit to the Queensland winter carnival.

“We’re looking at going over for the Brisbane Cup,” co-trainer Harry Bull said. “It’s run on June 6 under handicap conditions and it would suit him.

“He would be the only one we would take – he travels well by himself.”

The winner of the Listed Kaimai Stakes three runs back, Benzini has been taking it easy since his sixth placing in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup.

“He’ll come back into work on Monday,” Bull said.

Melbourne long-term focus

Auckland Cup winner Rock Diva is enjoying a good spell before she returns to begin her build-up toward the Melbourne spring carnival.

“She’s having eight weeks off and she’ll be back in work in the second week of May,” trainer Tony Pike said.

“We’ll make some firm decisions then. Obviously, the owners are keen on the Melbourne Cup so we will probably take her over there and give her a chance.”

Weight a worry for Kawi

Kawi faces a stiff task at the weights to keep his winning roll going at Tauranga on Saturday, according to Allan Sharrock.

The Taranaki trainer has opted to head north for the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Japan/New Zealand Trophy star, rather than waiting for the Gr.2 Ezibuy Awapuni Gold Cup on March 28.

Sharrock said Diademe would be a formidable opponent for Kawi at the weights, although he had no complaints as his former stable star Shez Sinsational had regularly taken advantage of the mares’ two kilo sex allowance.

Wentwood poised for big weekend

The team from Wentwood Grange in Cambridge will be watching Saturday’s Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill with great interest.

“Four of the 19 New Zealand-bred runners are from Wentwood,” said Dean Hawkins, who along with his parents Des and Jan and brother Sean run the boutique breeding operation.

Kermadec is a favoured runner in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes, Tiger Tees is attempting back-to-back wins in the Gr.1 Galaxy and Intimate Moment (Gr.3 Epona Stakes) and Tremec (Gr.3 Manion Cup) are also in action.

“We strive to produce racehorses so it’s a huge achievement for us and a great result for our clients,” Hawkins said.

Kermadec, Intimate Moment and Tremec were raised at Wentwood and sold by the farm through the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale at Karaka, while Tiger Tees was raised on the farm for breeder Mike Ryan.