Vinery freshman Benicio is making excellent progress with his first-crop juveniles.  The Victoria Derby winner sired his fourth winner on Tuesday when the Mick Price trained colt Cuban Sunday scored a comfortable victory in the Life Members Maiden Plate (1213m) at Sale.

Cuban Sunday (2c Benicio – Magical Sunday by Sunday Silence) is from a sister to former Chatswood Stud sire Tayasu Tsuyoshi.  He will be remembered for leaving the John McArdle trained star Hollow Bullet who was the leading filly of her generation in 2004-05.

Cuban Sunday was sold for $75,000 as a foal at the 2008 Inglis Select weanling sale.  His youngster half-brother by Testa Rossa made $140,000 at the 2010 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale.

Benicio (More Than Ready) is from G3 winning Danehill mare Mannington.  She is a half-sister to G1 Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger and their second dam Bint Marscay (Marscay) was a G1 winner of the STC Golden Slipper.

Bollinger was exported to Vinery’s North American base and she is the dam of Friesan Fire (A P Indy) who was a G2 winner of the 2009 Louisiana Derby.  He is trained by Steve Asmussen and has just been transferred from Kentucky to upstate New York with champion stablemate Rachel Alexandra for the upcoming Saratoga season.

Benicio’s first winner appeared in February when Toowoomba based filly Bernadecio led all the way at Eagle Farm.  His other winners Larry’s Ready, Tipurit and now Cuban Sunday have arrived at the back end of the season which isn’t surprising.  Their sire didn’t break through in town until he got over 1600m at Moonee Valley just three weeks before winning the Victoria Derby.

Benicio has averaged over 100 mares during his first four seasons at Vinery and he will stand for a $6,600 (inc gst) fee in 2010.