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By Ray Hickson

It would likely rate as the easiest win Tyler Schiller has been involved in all season and he hopes talented stayer Benaud can parlay his breakthrough into Grafton Cup success on Thursday.

Benaud started $1.26 in a set weights Class 1 at Wyong, so despite his 92 rating he only carried 59kg, and at no stage appeared in any trouble as he coasted to a 6-1/4 length win.

It’s probably not a conventional lead up to the Listed $200,000 Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup (2350m) but we all know the John O’Shea trained grey is a Group 1 Australian Derby runner-up and has the ability.

“Hopefully it has given him a bit of that winning spirit and a bit of confidence,’’ Schiller said.

“I think that’s all John was taking him there for, to know he’s still going well.

“I knew I had the best horse in the race and knew he could stay. I let him stride down the back straight and he attacked when I asked him to. I put pressure on him and he responded.

“Letting him back off that last 250m would have given him some confidence too.”

Schiller, who finishes his apprenticeship at the end of the month, knows he’s not going to get things so easy at Grafton from an awkward barrier.

Benaud wins at Wyong on July 4

Prior to his last start win, Benaud was beaten seven lengths by Grafton Cup favourite Zoumon in the Listed McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill so there’s a bit of ground to make up but Schiller said he seemed to relish having sight of the leader.

“I think John will want him ridden similar to Wyong, he may not be outside the leader but in the first five or six with cover would be good,’’ he said.

“We’ve seen him come off the bridle in those races in town, I know they are harder, but when he was on the bunny the other day he was very good.

“I’m hoping that there are a few in the middle that don’t want to force forward and I can find a spot.

“If I have to sit outside the leader I will but (Zoumon) is going to put pressure on so we don’t want to be working too much.”

On the back of his win, Benaud is considered by the market as a better chance of beating Zoumon, who has since won the Caloundra Cup, than he was when they last met.

Zoumon was $2.50 with TAB on Wednesday, Benaud $5.50 second favourite. At Rosehill it was $2.80 versus $18.

There’s a 6.5kg turnaround in Benaud’s favour and Schiller said it’s now up to the horse to prove himself again back at stakes grade.

“It’ll give John confidence going forward that he can place him back in town,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Grafton Cup meeting