The all-conquering Darley stable again signalled its powerful presence in Brisbane when gentle giant Benfica dominated his rivals at Doomben on Saturday.Benfica was the second starter Darley has unleashed this winter after Divorces won easily at the Gold Coast last Saturday and the hulking son of Lonhro repeated the dose with a big win in the $100,000 Listed Hampden Stakes (1200m).Perfectly ridden by stand-in jockey Damian Browne, Benfica settled in the box seat and powered to the line in the st

The all-conquering Darley stable again signalled its powerful presence in Brisbane when gentle giant Benfica dominated his rivals at Doomben on Saturday.

Benfica was the second starter Darley has unleashed this winter after Divorces won easily at the Gold Coast last Saturday and the hulking son of Lonhro repeated the dose with a big win in the $100,000 Listed Hampden Stakes (1200m).

Perfectly ridden by stand-in jockey Damian Browne, Benfica settled in the box seat and powered to the line in the straight to beat Saramenha by 3-1/4 lengths.

Barcaldine visitor Playtime ran on well to finish a short head back third with Lucky Morna a nose away, fourth.

Darley trainer Peter Snowden was not at Doomben but his spokesman Paul Reid said Benfica would now chase bigger things in the Group Two BRC Sires' Produce (1400m) and the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) - both at Eagle Farm.

"He's a lovely, relaxed horse and sometimes you get a bit worried when they are as casual as he is," Reid said.

"But he was very impressive and he's probably only going to improve because he's had a couple of setbacks this preparation.

"It's looking good for him going forward to the Sires because he's a very strong horse and he looks like a stayer in the making."

Reid said stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy was on the verge of returning to the saddle after his fall in the Sydney Cup and he expected him to be back to ride Benfica in the Sires.

But Browne quickly signalled his availability to continue his association with the horse should McEvoy be unavailable.

"He's a lovely type and is going to mature into a real racehorse," Browne said.

"I had to do a bit of work on him early to make sure he wasn't trapped three wide but he relaxed beautifully when I asked him to.

"He gave me every indication that the 1400 metres of the Sires will be right up his alley and I'd love to be able to stick with him."