Former New Zealander My Bentley will be given the chance to win his way towards a crack at the top stayers in the Australian Cup following his victory at Sandown.Trained by Mick Kent, the five-year-old graduated to city class with a stunning victory in Wednesday's Betfair Hcp (1800m) at Sandown.Jockey Brad Rawiller tried to give My Bentley an easy time back in the field with his 59kg and was always confident he would pick up the leaders in a fast run race."I have got a bit of time for the horse,

Former New Zealander My Bentley will be given the chance to win his way towards a crack at the top stayers in the Australian Cup following his victory at Sandown.

Trained by Mick Kent, the five-year-old graduated to city class with a stunning victory in Wednesday's Betfair Hcp (1800m) at Sandown.

Jockey Brad Rawiller tried to give My Bentley an easy time back in the field with his 59kg and was always confident he would pick up the leaders in a fast run race.

"I have got a bit of time for the horse," Rawiller said.

"I think he is going to make the grade.

"He had 59 which is always a concern but I made sure he had some favours early and when you are on a good horse like him he can make the gaps happen."

My Bentley sprinted quickly in the straight and scored by 1-3/4 lengths from Renounceable and Cheronbutch.

The gelding is part-owned by the OTI Bentley syndicate and was bought by managing owners Terry Henderson and Simon O'Donnell for an undisclosed figure last winter.

He has now won four of his 13 starts and his Sandown success was his second from four Australian runs.

Kent said My Bentley would have his next run in the Macquarie Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield before the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on February 17.

The Mornington Cup qualifies the winner for the spring cups and lifts their rating for a tilt at the Australian Cup (2000m) on March 6, or alternatively the Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 8.

"He is pretty raw and he looks like he's going to run a trip but we are taking it step by step," Kent said.

"In New Zealand he was never any good in bad ground so we thought we would give him a shot at the autumn and put him away for the spring."

Last spring, My Bentley was placed at Bendigo and finished third to Raffaello at Flemington over 2000 metres before being given a freshen up and then winning impressively at Kilmore on December 30.

Kent said he was improving as he matured and would again benefit from Wednesday's win.

"I have had this program in mind for a while and I haven't got him screwed down yet," Kent said.

"I just hope he stays sound and all goes well as I am looking forward to him getting over a trip."

Rawiller said My Bentley could be a headline horse for him in the autumn, if not the spring.

"I am keeping my fingers crossed he's a two mile horse and down the track there might be a good race in him," Rawiller said.