Bennett prepares to get back in the saddle

Former top trainer Greg Bennett is set to return to racing as a horse-breaker and pre-trainer at a Gold Coast hinterland property.

Bennett trained about 450 winners from his Scone base in NSW before joining the Aquis Group in Queensland as director of racehorse development in February.

His decision saw his top horse Clearly Innocent transferred to Kris Lees who went on to win the Group One Group Kingsford Smith Cup and run third in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap.

However, Bennett left Aquis in June citing personal reasons and he has enjoyed a break from racing.

Bennett said he had wanted to let the dust settle before making the next step in his career.

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“I have been able to get a lease on a property in the Gold Coast hinterland which is about 40 minutes from the sales complex at the Gold Coast,” Bennett said.

“I want to be ready to start by the end of the year with breaking-in and pre-training of young horses.

“Obviously the big sales in Queensland are early in the year and by mid next year I would hope to have 35 to 40 horses.”

Bennett said he wouldn’t rule out a return to training.

“I love racing and I was always going to get back into it. I suppose it is a bit like being a footballer. When it is over you miss it,” he said.

“But in racing even when you get older you have the chance to get back into the sport.”