Hot Prospect On Group 1 Flying Amy Classic Trail

CUMBRIA Benny, fresh from running the second fastest ever 365m time at Nowra on Monday, will be on trial at Wentworth Park on Saturday night for a Group 1 tilt.

Cumbria Benny (Fernando Bale-Cumbrio Ninno) ran 20.15 on Monday night when scoring by almost eight lengths.

Owner-trainer Steve Fitch says the dog is "99 percent certain" to head to Queensland with the Group 1 Flying Amy Classic his target.

The heats of the Group 1 will be run at Q2 Parklands on May 31 with the $150,000-to-the-winner final on June 7.

Cumbria Benny has already proven himself up to Group class, making the final of the recent Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic behind star bitch Sooty Keeping.

"He is a very, very fast dog," said Fitch of Cumbria Benny. "Which he showed on Monday night.

"He turns two in July and like all the Fernando Bales I have trained, I expect him to just keep improving.

"He is very fast early but can struggle at the end of a 520 metre race. If he gets stronger, he will be something."

Also likely to head north is kennel and littermate Cumbria Jack.

"He trialled well on Monday, his first trial since hurting a chest muscle a month ago," Fitch added.

"Unlike his brother, he is a little slow early, but very strong home.

"He ran 11.73 run home winning a final at Nowra at his third race start and that is a run-home record. On Monday in his trial, he ran home in 11.88."

Cumbria Jack has won six of nine, while Cumbria Benny has won six of 10.

There is no bigger fan of the progeny of Fernando Bale than Steve Fitch.

"I'd have a kennel full of them if I could," he said.

"The secret to them is they need a lot of reassurance, especially when they are pups being reared," he said.

"They thrive on attention. And, they just keep improving and improving.

"Cumbria Kid and three of his littermates ran PBs when they had turned four."

Cumbria Kid, of course, chased home Jay Is Jay when second in the Million Dollar Chase.