Benbatl Return in Style

Mark Smith - Saturday September 28

Back from a successful Australian campaign where he won the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes and ran Winx to two lengths in the WS Cox Plate, Godolphin's Benbatl gave a 5-length hiding to the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes runner-up King Of Comedy in Friday's Group II Shadwell Joel Stakes (1m) at Newmarket.

A Group 1 winner on three continents in 2018 following his success in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March, the Grosser Dallmayr Preis in Germany in July and the Ladbrokes (Caulfield) Stakes in Australia in October, Benbatl took up the running under Oisin Murphy when nothing wanted to lead.

Advertisement


It was a procession from there on in for the Saeed bin Suroor-trained 5yo son of Dubawi. King Of Comedy (Kingman) under Frankie Dettori was five lengths adrift with Sir Michael Stoute's Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) a further length and a quarter back in third. (image Sporting Life

"In the mornings he has been working really well - he showed his class in his last piece of work on the watered gallop, bin Suroor told Sporting Life.

"It was a hard season for him last year and he ran in many races, starting in Dubai. We talked to Sheikh Mohammed and decided to give him a break to start him at this time of year.

"We will keep the options open and I want to speak to the boss.

"We will be looking at Group One races for him and we could take him to Ascot for the QEII or the Champion Stakes and there is also a race for him in Germany. After that I want to take him back to Dubai and run him in the big races there.

"He is a solid horse that has always tried really hard. Talking to Oisin he said he would have no problem being kept at a mile or going back to a mile and a quarter, but he showed plenty of speed.

"It was very important (to get him back on track). In the stable there is always a star and he is one of them. He is a Group One winner in the past and we are looking to keep him happy and healthy for the future."

A 5yo entire by champion sire Dubawi, Benbatl advances his record to 8 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 17 starts.

He is the best of two winner's out of the Selkirk mare Nahrain who was honoured as Champion 3YO Filly in GB in 2011 (Long).

The winner of the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera and Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes, Nahrain is a daughter of the equally talented Bahr (Generous) whose four wins included the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes while she placed in the Epsom Oaks, Flower Bowl H. and Irish Oaks.

Bahr is a granddaughter of one of the greats on New Zealand Racing, the Copenhagen II mare La Mer who dominated stakes races like few others in the mid to late 1970's.

Her 20 stakes wins included the New Zealand Oaks and Air New Zealand Stakes.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Godolphin Imports Fight Out Thrilling Caulfield Stakes
Godolphin threw out a warning that they will be a major player over the Spring Carnival in Melbourne when the imports Benbatl (GB) and Blair House (IRE) fought out a thrilling finish to the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
My Oberon Announces Himself in Crystal Mile
Making his Australian debut, Annabel Neasham’s royally-bred Dubawi gelding My Oberon (IRE) exceeded stable expectations with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Group II Schweppes Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
Sires With Winners - Monday May 5
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.
First Season Highlights – These Guys Made an Impression
The Inglis Australian Weanling Sale gave buyers the opportunity to have a first look at the progeny of a new crop of  first season sires and the big banger of the group duly produced the highest priced baby from this cohort of sires.
Old Marvel Runs Them Into The Ground Again
Joe Pride’s veteran speedball Ball Of Muscle took up his favoured front-running roll under Craig Williams in Saturday’s Group II Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and defied all to run him down - nothing could and the son of Dubawi (IRE) earned a sixth stakes win.
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).