Benbatl will be even stronger at Dubai show
riyadh — Maximum Security took all the accolades and the generous prize purse, and quite rightly too, in the inaugural running of the $20 million Saudi Cup, late on Saturday night.
Quite rightly so because the American powerhouse had been the odds on favourite since the four-year-old colt was announced in this stellar field of runners.
It was a redemption of sorts for the grandson of Street Cry, the 2002 Dubai World Cup winner, after he was controversially disqualified after winning the Kentucky Derby last year.
It was an epic battle throughout the nine furlongs and the drama that unfolded, left everyone satiated.
But there was something strikingly ominous at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack, on the outskirts of Riyadh, that of Benbatl running.
The six-year-old from Dubawi ran a strong race in finishing third after doing much of the running in touching distance of the leader.
It was only his second foray on dirt after all his previous 19 starts had been on turf. This third place came on the back of his winning dirt debut in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 during the sixth race meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan in early February. It not only gave his connections —
Godolphin — a lot of confidence going into a historic 25th renewal of the Dubai World Cup in four weeks time, but also perhaps an inkling of what is to come.
Considering what has transpired over these two runs on dirt, Godolphin may just have found a really strong contender for the $12 million contest on World Cup night.
His handler Saeed bin Suroor, who has a record nine wins at the Dubai World Cup, was pleased with how Benbatl fared on the night and is now looking ahead to the biggest horse race on home soil.
“I’m proud of him,” bin Suroor said after the Saudi Cup.
“Benbatl ran an excellent race and I am pleased to see him finish third against some of the best dirt horses in the world. I think that a further trip might be better for Benbatl and we can talk about the Dubai World Cup for him now,” added the 53-year-old.
Benbatl’s regular jockey Oisin Murphy too felt he ran a strong one.
“I was very happy with him. He ran a stormer. He had a good trip,” said Murphy.
“He jumped smartly but I didn’t have the pace to sit as handy as I would have liked. In saying that, he had an inside trip upsides the winner, and I am thrilled with him,” he added.
Bin Suroor’s Final Song came third in the Saudi Derby. “I was pleased with the performance of Final Song. We will probably take her back to Europe now and look for some nice turf races,” bin Suroor said.
Meanwhile, Godolphin had a decent outing with Mubtasim, the mount of James Doyle, and Glorious Journey, the ride of William Buick, finished second and third respectively in the stc 1351 Cup.
And English conditioner Charlie Appleby felt Mubtasim ran a great race and almost won it.
“Mubtasim ran a great race and we thought that he might have nicked it at one stage. It was still a great effort from him. Glorious Journey suffered because of his draw. William Buick couldn’t get any cover, but he finished well,” said Appleby.
Jockey James Doyle added: “Everything went to plan on Mubtasim, bar the result. He flew out of the gates and did what he likes to do, which is bowl along. Unfortunately, we were just pegged back on the line.”
Appleby’s Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter was fifth in The Longines Turf Handicap.
“Cross Counter was coming up against some very good stayers and it is tough to give weight all round. He put up another good run and, all being well, will head back to Dubai now for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup.” Appleby said.