The victory by Dragon (Fear the dragon) In Winton today was especially for the owners of the horse, Ian Bennett, his wife Diane and their extensive family.
Their son Mark was tragically killed two years ago in a work accident and the Bennett family placed a tombstone at his grave yesterday.
Bennett who has been breeding horses for almost fifty years, says that Dragoness is almost 100one winner.
Some of his best horses are on land (10), Lord Patrol, (11) two (12) and Maximan.
Maximan won twenty -seven races and raced in the interdominations of 2018.
Bennett was also owned by Benrodden.
‘Ossie Throp was sold out and had no room for his horses. He said if Soldier Girl had a Colt, I could have it. That was Benrodden. Maurice Skinner had him, but the horse was seriously injured. When Maurie had him, he got a different hers. I drove him while lamping, then I gave him Graeme Hale.
Benrodden won two for Skinner and another seven for Hale before he was exported to America.
In today’s race, driver Rory McIIWRICK straight to the top and she won with a length and a quarter of our twinkle.
Replay
“It’s really a sensation because I have had a few lean years,” Ian said.
The victory emphasized the great conditioning skills of her EDendale trainer Craig Laurenson. Dragoness finally raced on the grass at the end of January.
“Craig is very good at conditioning them. Both she and Sonny Jim (who finished third today) have turned out to be three months together. According to the trainer, she has a lot of ability and could be the best horse that I have had. She is the last horse I have bred.”
Bennett has been breeding from this family for more than twenty years.
“The breed is very difficult to handle and he (Laurenson) could be one of the few trainers that she has been able to process well. They have peculiarities. You have to do it their way or you don’t do it at all. If you try to let them do something and they don’t want to do it, they just go doggy.”
Bennet has seen first hand how Laurenson learned to deal with the family.
“I had a horse and it could not be broken into if shoes were put on. I took him out for a year and then gave him Craig. It took them twelve months to shoes him. That was River Patrol. He won three races here and we sold him to Aussie. He started more than 250 times.
Bennett still lives at the family farm in Te-Houka near Balclutha.
“I have been there for seventy years. My son (Johnny) rents most of the farm, but I have held 100 hectares. I am bold 100 cattle a year and I have the horses.”
In the last race today, Airwaves, also owned by Bennett and trained by Laurenson, was parked and finished second.
For complete race results, Click here.
Through Bruce StewartFor Harnesslink
#Win #Special #Bennett