Jockey Jason Benbow gets the chance to ride his first city winner for his father, Bendigo trainer Bennie Benbow, aboard Wordmaster at Moonee Valley.Benbow, who spent 4-1/2 months sidelined with a broken ankle, has ridden three winners in Melbourne this season including the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes aboard City Of Song at Caulfield in April.He rides Wordmaster in the Kyabram Club Hcp (1200m), a race the rising five-year-old wouldn't be running in had he gained a start in last Saturday's All Vic
Jockey Jason Benbow gets the chance to ride his first city winner for his father, Bendigo trainer Bennie Benbow, aboard Wordmaster at Moonee Valley.
Benbow, who spent 4-1/2 months sidelined with a broken ankle, has ridden three winners in Melbourne this season including the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes aboard City Of Song at Caulfield in April.
He rides Wordmaster in the Kyabram Club Hcp (1200m), a race the rising five-year-old wouldn't be running in had he gained a start in last Saturday's All Victorian Sprint Series Heat 7 (1000m) at Flemington.
The Hemingway gelding was fourth emergency in the event won by Elusive Touch last week.
He was first emergency for Saturday's race but has already gained a start as Briefed, Swift Bay and Diamonds At Dusk have already been scratched.
Bennie Benbow said he intended to back up Wordmaster in Saturday week's $150,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington if he got a start.
"He has eight points and I rang the handicapper to see if he's guaranteed a run but he isn't," he said.
"He needed a run so I spoke to the owners and we decided to have a crack at this race and then see if we can back him up.
"Hopefully he'd get a run next week because he's going well.
"He's got a pretty good chance tomorrow too even though he's drawn a bad gate (16)."
Wordmaster put himself into contention for the final when he ran second to Perturbo in heat 5 over 1000m at Flemington on June 11.
"He's only a 74 rater at the moment and has been a bit stiff but he has the class and should get in on the minimum next week," Benbow said.
"He loves the straight which is a bonus."
Wordmaster has had three starts at Flemington for a win, a second and a fourth, while his only run at Moonee Valley was a fifth of seven to Centexpress over 955m in March.
"I think there's a Listed ot Group Three race in him," Benbow said.
Beyond Pardon is $4.60 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Ortayga at $6.50, Wordmaster at $7 and Signor Socks at $9 with Two Hills next best at $10.