Ready To Fly gives Benmag a proper lift-off

Neil Andrews’ Benmag Brown Syndicate enjoyed a first-class lift-off when Ready To Fly (Richard Fourie) shot 2.50-lengths clear of her rivals in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m at Greyville, earning the winner’s stake and a R60,000 bonus for being a BSA graduate.

This was a winner from the Syndicate’s fourth run and Neil commented: “I am delighted for the Benmag partners who gave us their trust and support. There are 24 of them in all, including big names like Basie and Suzette Viljoen, Murray Makepeace and others with shares ranging from 1 to 10%. But this is the wonder of fractional ownership – everyone shares the same pleasure and excitement.”

Ready To Fly won after two successive second places and she’s a promising type by Gimmethegreenlight that Mike de Kock considered running in the G1 Golden Slipper on July Day, but she didn’t draw well and Neil said: “There is a career and more opportunities ahead of her.”

Neil added: “This win was for the syndicate and the three ladies involved – Lindi Garlicki who bred her at Connemara Stud; Jane Thomas who spelled her at Far End and Diane de Kock who prepared her for the main yard at Randjesfontein. Thanks to all!”

The Benmag Syndicate also has a Rafeef filly in training with Mike – her name is Cataclock and she is from the immediate family of The Mouseketeer, who won the Emerald Cup for Neil and partners several years ago.

Benmag Bloodstock’s other runner is another Gimme called I Did It My Way, in training with Dean Kannemeyer. Neil told: “This one had me worried. He was slow off on his debut, so much so that race caller Rouvaun Smit noted he was ‘detached from the field’, something no owner wants to hear. I was distraught, saw the runners flashed by at the winning post but also saw I Did It My Way running on strongly into fifth and earning a stake cheque. He flew late from his impossible position behind 11 others, so we have hope for him too!”

Benmag also purchased an Oratorio colt from a recent sale, a “smashing individual” selected in conjunction with Jane Thomas when Jehan Malherbe was unavailable. This Oratorio will go into training soon.