Benbaun primed for Curragh test

Benbaun will try to make amends for his narrow Royal Ascot defeat in Sunday’s Listed King Of Beers Stakes at the Curragh.

Mark Wallace’s charge only went down by a short-head to Australian raider Takeover Target in the King’s Stand Stakes after coming with a strong finishing burst.

The five-year-old is set to stick to five furlongs at the weekend as he bids to improve on an impressive Irish record that has seen him win two of his four starts at the Curragh.

Wallace said: “He has come out of the race very well. He’s in very, very good shape.

“I think Dandy Man will be hard to beat but then again, so will we.

“He wants it firm so I hope there won’t be too much watering and he loves the Curragh – he’s won there twice and has been beaten a neck and a head the other two times.”

Wallace is set to be double-handed on the Budweiser Irish Derby card as Espartano is primed to run in the Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks Railway Stakes.

The Vettori colt arrived at Royal Ascot unbeaten in two starts and finished eighth in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

Although he will be making the step up to Group Two company, Wallace expects him to improve on that Ascot run.

“He didn’t have a race at Ascot. He got left in the stalls and still managed to beat 10 of them,” explained Wallace.

“He’s a good horse but this is obviously a tough race but we’re happy to give it a go.”

Jamie Spencer is set to partner both horses again and Wallace is pleased to have the champion jockey on board.

He added: “Jamie rides them both and it’s great to have him. He’s ridden eight winners for us this year and he’s a really important member of the team.”