'Relaxed' Benbaun ready for sprint

Benbaun has delighted connections in his preparation for Sunday’s Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.

Mark Wallace’s stable star, who was last seen finishing 10th in the Prix de L’Abbaye in October, had a problem-free journey to the former colony and impressed during a piece of work on the all-weather track on Tuesday morning.

The four-year-old, who will be ridden by Kieren Fallon, is seeking his first victory at the highest level but has scored in Listed and Group Three company during a fruitful year.

Wallace’s assistant trainer Brendan Walsh said: “I have not had a moment of worry with him. He is relaxed and has taken the trip really well.

“The only other time he has been a long way from home was when he took three days to get to Naples in Italy.

“He was fine on that trip so I was quite confident he would handle this.

“He will love the fast ground here – he wants it like a road.”

Another Sprint contender to impress in a gallop was domestic challenger Cape Of Good Hope, who worked over 800m in a time of 54 seconds.

The gelding has travelled all over the world this year in a successful quest to land the Global Sprint Challenge and was third in Australia on his latest run.

Trainer David Oughton said: “I’m pleased with him. He’s starting to come right again after coming back from Australia. He had a good trial last week and did all that I wanted.

“Obviously it’s very disappointing for everyone that Silent Witness won’t be there but it gives my horse his chance to win again at home.

“He’s performed so well all over the world but he hasn’t won in Hong Kong for over three years.

Hopefully that will change on the weekend.”

Cape Of Good Hope also won the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot at York and is set for another international campaign in 2006.

Oughton added: “The ideal scenario, all being well, is that we’ll head back to Melbourne for the Lightning and Australia Stakes, then back home for the Chairman’s Sprint Trophy and off to England again.”