Benedetta leads the charge for Jason Warren Racing

Benedetta, the flagbearer for Jason Warren Racing, has already proven herself at Flemington with a dominant win in the Inglis Banner, followed by a Group 1 triumph in the Goodwood in Adelaide. “Having a horse like Benedetta is everything,” Warren aid. “As a small stable, you need a flagship horse to compete in top races, and she’s certainly provided that for us.”

Benedetta’s preparation for the Black Caviar Lightning has included a jump out at Flemington, allowing the team to fine-tune her ahead of the race. “We had Benedetta trial down the straight here at Flemington, and that just gives us a chance to line her up before she heads back to a Group 1 target in the Lightning Stakes,” Warren said. The mare, who has matured significantly over the past year, will carry more weight due to her increased rating, but Warren sees that as a positive.

“I think the horse has furnished and matured, and she’s a lot stronger than she was last year,”.

Jason Warren Racing operates with two top-tier facilities in Mornington – one on-track with 16 stables and another at Graebar Park, which has day paddocks. In addition, they have access to Balnarring Beach, an important element in the horses’ mental and physical well-being.

Explaining the significance of their Flemington expansion, Warren said, “It adds another string to our bow. It’s great being able to send Benedetta up the straight at Flemington for jump-outs, for example.

Having access to the facilities there, particularly for two-year-olds, gives them an edge in their early race preparation”.

Warren’s journey in the industry has been shaped by hard work and perseverance. A first-generation trainer, he moved from school in Sydney to Bega, where he started out breaking horses. “I did my time breaking and pre-training before getting an opportunity to train for some owners,” he says.

His first victory came in 2001 with a Group 3 win, and he has since trained other high-profile horses like Bel Sprinter, who claimed the Group 1 Galaxy in Sydney, and Brooklyn Hustle, who triumphed at Eagle Farm during the COVID-19 pandemic. “That was a race I had to watch from my couch!”

Looking ahead, Warren is excited about Palm Angel, who is shaping up as a contender for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. “He’s equal favourite at the moment,” Warren says.

Warren and his assistant trainer, Joe Herbert, share the workload at Jason Warren Racing, dividing their time between Mornington and Flemington. “We communicate constantly and bounce ideas off each other. Having both of us involved in every aspect of training ensures the horses get the best attention,” he says. With 40 horses in work and plans to increase that number to 45, Warren believes a smaller, well-managed stable is key for them right now.

Family plays a significant role in the business, with Warren’s wife, Kate, and their two daughters, Chloe and Charlotte, actively involved in the stables. “Chloe has strapped a few winners, and Charlotte, who’s still at school, recently strapped her first Flemington runner, which was exciting for her,” Warren says.

Both daughters ride track work and compete in shows with their own horses. While Warren no longer rides regularly, his expertise is still called upon for the “naughty ones” when needed.

The stable is currently enjoying a strong run, with future goals including the continued development of Grand Pierro, who won the Bagot Handicap (2800m) on New Year’s Day, earning a ballot exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup. “If he proves himself over two miles, we could aim for the Cup, which would be a fantastic achievement,” Warren says.

For now, the immediate focus is on Benedetta and the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning. Warren acknowledges the race’s prestige, saying, “It’s one of the banner races for sprinters in Australia. If not the banner race, for sure. It’s named after a great mare, and we’d certainly love to win it.”