Billy Healey young star Benzou faces tough mission at Eagle Farm for third straight win

Trainer Billy Healey won’t be distracted by talk stable star Benzou could be sold to Hong Kong buyers as he focuses on continuing his winning form at Eagle Farm.

Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey believes star gelding Benzou will face his acid test from a wide barrier in a 3YO Quality Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Benzou will be chasing his third straight victory as the $5 favourite with TAB in a wide-open race, amid talk that he could be sold to Hong Kong buyers for around $1m.

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But Healey said negotiations had been parked for now and he was fully focused on preparing the three-year-old to continue on his winning ways.

“We haven’t had anything concrete yet,” Healey said about negotiations to sell his star sprinter.

“We’ve had a few things thrown around but we’re just continuing on for the time being.”

Benzou stormed to a dominant last-start triumph at Eagle Farm over 1000m on March 22, with the in-form Cejay Graham on board.

But he faces a tougher test over 1200m on Saturday from gate 15 of 16 and on a track rated a Heavy 8 on Friday but likely to improve considerably before race day.

Benzou is chasing a third straight win at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

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“I can’t remember him ever being on wet ground to be honest,” Healey said.

“Even his trials have always been on good ground or dirt so we’re going in a bit blind.

“The weather’s been a bit tough for us to really do what we would’ve liked but he goes through fit and well on to Saturday.

“He’s drawn a horrible alley and it’s going to make it really tough but three-wide without cover won’t be a problem. I’m not too worried about that.

“We’ll find out how really good he is on Saturday.”

The Rob Heathcote-trained Cosmo Centaurus ($6.50), Yabby Pump ($7.50) and Gin A Tonic ($8), who was runner-up to Benzou last start, are next in the market.

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“He’s going to have to improve again to be winning this race from that sort of draw,” Healey said about Benzou, who started his career with a fourth in a Super Maiden at Hawkesbury last October.

“But he’s pretty untapped and he hasn’t missed a beat since that first-up run (on March 22).

“He’s in good order and there’s no reason why he can’t go on with it.

“It might not end up being the worst draw in the world. It could favour him a little bit out wide as the track deteriorates during the day.”

Originally published as Billy Healey young star Benzou faces tough mission at Eagle Farm for third straight win