Benbaun off on his travels

Benbaun will miss his intended engagement at the Curragh on Sunday due to the unfavourable soft ground and will now be prepared for a trip to Japan.

Mark Wallace’s speedster went to the Far East last year and earned nearly £47,000 for finishing fifth behind Takeover Target in the Group One Sprinters Stakes and the same race is on the agenda again.

“Benbaun flies out to Japan on August 29 and we intend to run him in two races there,” said Wallace.

“Provided there are no problems , he’ll go for a Group Two on September 9 (Phoenix Sprint) and then on to the Sprinters Stakes, in which he was only beaten two necks and a head by the runner-up last year. We’ve booked Eddie Ahern to ride him,” he told the Racing Post.

“It’s too soft in Ireland to be worth risking it and Eddie will come to the yard to ride him in work instead before the horse starts his trip to Japan.”