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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John O’Shea hasn’t reached for the D-Day description just yet with talented stayer Benaud but he says Saturday’s Group 3 $200,000 Furphy Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) is an important moment for the grey.

Trainer John O'Shea (Pic: Bradley Photos)

While Benaud has only won the one race, on debut, in 10 starts the trainer is quick to jump to his defence and after two eye-catching runs back from a spell he said the stakes are much higher one run out from his spring target.

“To be fair to the horse he hasn’t run in many races where he could win,’’ O’Shea said.

“Last season he ran in one race where he could win and that was the Derby. And prior to that he went straight from Nowra to a Gloaming Stakes.

“He’s probably only participated in two races in his career where he would be what you’d call a winning chance so I wouldn’t be too hard on him.

“It’s when they are a winning chance and they don’t run up to expectation is probably when we should be a little concerned. This is a race where he needs to be able to be in the finish.”

The four-year-old, runner-up in the ATC Derby in April, endured a wide run but still charged into fourth in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) two weeks ago on the back of a midfield finish in the Winx Stakes (1400m) first-up.

He clocked the second fastest last 600m of the race, running 37.66 (Punter’s Intelligence) in heavy ground, and the fastest last 200m of 13 seconds.

And while that performance was remarkable given the context of the day it will mean little if he doesn’t back it up and confirm his spot at the top of the market for next month’s Group 1 $750,000 Furphy The Metropolitan (2400m).

“I always worry about them being too outstanding, I was very pleased with the effort but it wasn’t what I wanted at that stage of the preparation to be fair,’’ O’Shea said.

“He had a gallop on Tuesday morning and he’s really coming along well.

“He really needs to stand up this week. It’s an important race to show that he’s going to be competitive in the Metropolitan.”

Benaud was $4 with TAB on Thursday and a clear favourite at $4.50 in the Metropolitan market.

O’Shea has won the Metropolitan twice, with Bedouin in 2003 and Magic Hurricane in 2015, and he points out both horses ran well on the corresponding day (in the now moved Hill Stakes) in the lead up to those wins.

Lost And Running begins his second TAB Everest campaign in a red hot edition of the Group 2 $1 million Bowermans Shorts (1100m) and O’Shea is expecting him to show he’s on track for next month’s sprint grand final.

The gelding finished last in the Shorts a year ago but with excuses and he ultimately ran fourth in the Everest.

“He’s a bit further forward so we’re hoping that reflects in his performance and he gets an opportunity to run well,’’ he said.

“In the corresponding race last year it was disappointing for everyone and with that in mind we’re looking to be competitive.”

The track conditions will be vital to whether stablemates Maximal and I Am Lethal line up, and how competitive they will be, in their respective races at Randwick.

Maximal, runner-up in the Group 1 Doomben Cup ahead of Zaaki, resumes in the Group 1 $1m Fujitsu General George Main Stakes (1600m).

“He’s in great form and I’m glad we persevered with him in the autumn to get those good performances under his belt,’’ O’Shea said.

Benaud runs fourth in the Chelmsford Stakes on September 3

“He’s got a good understanding of what’s required and its reflecting in his work and trials so he’s a really improved little horse.”

I Am Lethal has an assignment in the Moraitis Cerebral Palsy Alliance Trophy (1200m) and he’ll race as a gelding for the first time but needs reasonably firm ground to produce his best.

He proved that when finishing 14 lengths from Mazu on a heavy track in the Group 2 Arrowfield Stakes back in April.

“He’s always been a talent and we’d love to have the opportunity to run him and have him run well and then go to the Silver Eagle,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, emerging sprinter Waihaha Falls will have a second trial on September 26 before resuming in the Group 3 $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) on TAB Everest Day.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting