Puritan Caps Big Day for Beneteau

Mark Smith - Saturday February 6

The Jason Warren-trained Puritan became the second black-type winner on the day for Arrowfield Stud's ill-fated stallion Beneteau when landing the Group III Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Earlier in the day the Kris Lees-trained Beneteau filly Twist Tops broke her maiden in the $250,000 Inglis Classic (LR) while another 2yo Beneteau filly Hussterical, herself a sister to an Inglis Classic winner in Lady Jivago, was most impressive when breaking her maiden at Newcastle.

A $46,000 purchase from the Crowningstone draft at the 2014 Inglis Classic Yearling sale, Puritan was reoffered at the NZ Bloodstock Ready To Run sale where he was knocked down to Warren for $80,000.

He advances his record to 2 wins from 4 starts for earnings of $112,400.

Ridden by Nick Hall, Puritan finished strongly edging out the Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained favourite Golden Spin (Hard Spun) with Mick Price's talented Ready For Victory (More Than Ready) a length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)

Warren believes the son of Beneteau has the talent to pick up the baton from his star sprinter, Bel Sprinter.

"I've been looking for another good one since Bel Sprinter retired. I might've just found one.

"I was blessed to get a horse like Bel Sprinter, as frustrating as he was.

"He was a big help to my career.

A half-brother to the stakes-placed Linked In (Country Reel), Putitan is the fifth foal of the 4-time winner Mina (Dracula) herself a daughter of the stakes-placed Bellwater mare Earthshine.

Mina has an unraced 2yo gelding by Zoffany (Ire) named Game Of War and a colt foal by Zoffany (Ire). She was not covered last spring.

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