‘Inter’ victor is back in training

Reigning Inter Dominion harness racing champion Boncel Benjamin is back on the training track after a short and very well earnt break.

“He was out at an agistment place for three weeks and he’s come back in really good nick,” Steve Duffy, of Shepparton, said.

“Our trainer Jason (Grimson) is really happy with him. He’s going to be aimed at a few sprint races leading up to the Newcastle Mile in the middle of next month,” he said.

“Then hopefully he qualifies for a crack at the Miracle Mile.”

A little over five weeks ago, the seven-year-old pacer, starting at a 50/1 longshot, was sensationally awarded the 2021 Intern Dominion final at Sydney’s Menangle Park.

Stewards promoted the gelding from second to first place after they deemed he was denied a fair run by leader and first past the post Expensive Ego at the 100 metre mark of the home straight.

Boncel Benjamin (Grinfromeartoear-Alleluia Lombo (Christian Cullen) is raced by Steve’s wife Julie and was named after his late father.

“I always told my mum Lorraine that if we ever got a real good one, it would be named in memory of dad,” Steve said.

“Dad’s full name was Boncel Benjamin, but he didn’t like it all that much and preferred Bill- that’s what everyone knew him as. He died in a car accident when I was in my early 20s.”

Duffy said the pacer had tendon injuries and he was full of praise for the work done by young up-and-coming Menangle trainer Grimson.

“I know Jason puts the horse in a water walker a fair bit where he trains out of,” he said.

The Duffys paid $1650 for the Christian Cullen-bred broodmare Alleluia Lombo, who was in foal to Grinfromeartoear – the resulting foal being Boncel Benjamin.

The dam, unplaced in six race starts and previously owned by Kaye Hartnett, has produced four more foals. Betterthancheddar-sired gelding Ubetcha has registered three wins at Kilmore, Bendigo and Yarra Glen.

“There’s a half-brother by A Rocknroll Dance who has just turned three. I really like him, but something with his metabolism just means he falls away with any work. He’s having 12months off and hopefully he’ll grow out of it,” Duffy said.

“Then we have a two year old half-sister (Betting Line) who looks okay and another half-sister yearling by Ultimate Machette.”

Duffy, who has been training for about 40 years, has had a number of classy performers in his stable including Almost El Eagle (McArdle), a winner of 21 races; Village Warrior (Village Jasper) 13 wins; and We Dare To Dream (Live Or Die), 11 wins.

“The ID victory celebrations have kept going on for a bit, but hopefully they’ll start to slow down from now on. It’s been fun but I’m not as young as I use to be,” he laughed.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink