Mornington trainer Jason Warren having another crack at the Oakleigh Plate with Benedetta

The pain of two Oakleigh Plate near misses could disappear in 65 seconds if the Jason Warren-trained Benedetta can post her maiden Group 1 win at Caulfield on Saturday.

Oakleigh Plate history has mixed messages for Mornington trainer Jason Warren.

The last 20 years produced reason for optimism but two Oakleigh Plates were the stuff of nightmares for the trainer.

Warren had the $3.30 chance Bel Sprinter in 2012 but luck deserted the smart galloper when he missed the start and never got a clear crack at the leaders.

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He could only look on as the $21 chance Woorim charged home to get up on the line.

Warren went within a head of winning the 2021 Oakleigh Plate with Brooklyn Hustle, who also arguably could have won the feature sprint with more luck early in the straight.

“Bel Sprinter was more unlucky than Brooklyn Hustle,” Warren said.

“He should have won that day.

“He finished right next to (multiple Group 1 winner) Sepoy and he was never off the bridle.”

Benedetta and jockey Daniel Stackhouse will attempt to erase Mornington trainer Jason Warren’s Oakleigh Plate nightmares on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Warren said his latest Oakleigh Plate contender, Benedetta, was on the same ability level as Bel Sprinter, who later went on to win The Galaxy in Group 1 company in Sydney.

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However, Warren said Benedetta was a lot more straightforward than Bel Sprinter, who developed the bad habit of missing the start during his career that produced eight wins and more than $1m in prizemoney.

“He was just a bit more of a head case while she’s tactically brilliant,” Warren said.

“She’s a professional to handle and has the right brain.”

Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate will be Benedetta’s first crack at winning a Group 1 race after the mare won a Group 3 contest and ran third in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality in the spring.

Warren noted mares resuming in the Oakleigh Plate have usually been competitive in the $750,000 sprint.

Of the last 20 winners of the Oakleigh Plate, 10 have won the race first-up with five of those being mares.

But he said Benedetta would be close to her top but not at her peak for the Oakleigh Plate.

“Mares have got a good first-up record in the race,” Warren said.

“She’s not wound as tight as she can go.

“She’s ready to run well but you’d expect to see natural improvement as the preparation goes on.

“She’s in good order, she’s had two trials and the icing on the cake was the gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday.

“She’s ready to go.”

Regular rider Daniel Stackhouse will be aboard Benedetta in the Oakleigh Plate.

Originally published as Mornington trainer Jason Warren having another crack at the Oakleigh Plate with Benedetta