Group 1-winning mare Benedetta has undergone a shock stable change on the eve of the spring.
Last year’s The Goodwood winner, who is also three times Group 1 placed, has been transferred to Ciaron Maher after being trained for her first 22 starts by Jason Warren.
A rising six-year-old by Hellbent, and a half-sister to the stakes-placed Whatafox, Benedetta is listed as being in training at Maher’s private base Bong Bong Farm in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Benedetta, a $75,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier purchase by syndicator Eales Racing, has not raced since June 7 when unplaced in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup in Brisbane. She was placed in the Black Caviar Lightning and William Reid at Group 1 level earlier in her autumn preparation.
Maher trained mare Bella Nipotina to win last year’s Everest as a seven-year-old.