Benfica joins his sire at stud

Champion sire Lonhro's son Benfica caught the eye from the moment he stepped onto the track, winning on his two-year-old debut in December of his juvenile season.

Sent for a spell after his initial preparation, the Peter Snowden-trained colt stepped up in class in the Listed Hampden Stakes over 1200m first up in Queensland. The handsome bay trounced his opposition by three-and-a-quarter lengths, recording the largest winning margin in the race since 2002, when three-time G1 winner Yell was victorious.

After an unlucky run at his next start, Benfica headed to the G1 T J Smith Stakes, a race won in the past by Pressday (Domesday), Darci Brahma, Outback Prince, Show A Heart, Freemason, Mossman, Mahogany, Slight Chance, Prince Salieri, Zeditave, Zephyr Zip and Luskin Star.

Starting as second-favourite behind last-start G2 winner Hot Snitzel, Benfica proved more than capable of performing at the highest level, scoring by one-and-a-half lengths and in the process became the first juvenile G1 winner for his sire, now established as one of the leading sires in the southern hemisphere.

Due stand at Kelvinside alongside his sire, Benfica has the pedigree to match his racecourse ability and impressive looks.

Out of the G2-performing Danehill mare Hut, a half-sister to Dalquarren (herself the dam of G1 winner Neroil). Benfica is bred on a cross that has produced a further six Stakes winners for Lonhro - G2 winners Pinwheel and Obsequious, G3 winners Deer Valley and Eight Till Late, plus the Listed winners Minnesota Shark and Black Minx.

As the highest Timeform-rated colt by Lonhro of his crop, and the second highest rated of his age by the 11-time G1 winner to date, Benfica’s figure that year rated him the fifth highest two-year-old behind stable mates Sepoy and Helmet, rating the equal of Foxwedge, and significantly higher than the now four-time G1-winning filly Mosheen.

As one of two G1-winning colts by Lonhro at stud in Australia - the other being fellow Darley stallion Denman - Benfica offers breeders the opportunity to tap into Lonhro's successful bloodlines, both on the track, this season most notably his dual G1-winning son Pierro, and in the ring, as Lonhro's 11 yearlings sold averaged over eight times their service fee.

Benfica will stand at Kelvinside at a fee of $11,000 including GST. For further information, please contact the Nominations team on +61 (0)2 6543 9000, or by clicking here.