Godolphin's MG1SW Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), trying dirt for the first time in the 1900-metre G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2, answered that surface question emphatically, drawing off to win by two lengths over Military Law (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Meydan on Thursday. 2018 GI Belmont S. runner-up Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}) ran third, 6 3/4 lengths behind after a wide trip.
Part of the early pace discussion from the bell, Christophe Soumillon settled his mount in a perfect position in third just off the tempo set by dueling leaders Chiefdom (The Factor) and Roman Rosso (Arg) (Roman Ruler). Roman Rosso gained a narrow advantage midway on the backstretch and clung on grimly as the field hit the half-mile pole and began to turn toward home. Chiefdom continued to press Roman Rosso, but Benbatl under Christophe Soumillon loomed up ominously three deep and stuck his head in front with just under 500 metres to go. Given a couple of left-handers, Benbatl surged away, with only Military Law cutting into the margin late. Gronkowski was best of the rest, covering 10 metres more than the winner on Trakus. It was revealed on Wednesday that the 6-year-old and Gronkowski both had entries in the $20-million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29.
“He was the best horse in the field by far,” said Soumillon. “For sure, it was the first time on the dirt, but when the horses are really good, they can handle both surfaces. He has good gate speed, which is important for dirt racing. He was cruising the whole way. I was worried on the back straight, because he didn't change legs properly—I had to force him twice to stay on his right leg. On the last turn, he stayed on his right leg for 200m, so I was little disappointed. Finally, he changed and when I came into the straight, I could feel straight away that he was able to run away and he did quite impressively.”
Added bin Suroor, who was winning his 12th Al Maktoum Challenge R2, “It's good to see him really travel well and win that easily. To see the jockey, who rode Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) to win the last two Dubai World Cups, ride him with confidence and in the last three furlongs he's still on the bridle shows his class. We have always known he's a special horse on the turf, but Sheikh Mohammed wanted to run him on the dirt to see how he would run and it was a good decision from the boss. He handled it well and Christophe kept him handy in the race, which was the plan for him. He won it well, thank God. It was a good decision.”
The Saeed bin Suroor trainee, victorious in the 2018 G1 Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich, and the G1 Ladbrokes S. Down Under that October, filled the bridesmaid role in the G1 Cox Plate in the wake of Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}). Returned to the Northern Hemisphere and given 11 months off, the bay saluted in the Sept. 27 G2 Joel S. at HQ, before being unable to cope with the heavy going in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Oct. 19 and finishing last of 16. He had opened his season with a 4 3/4-length victory in the local G2 Singspiel S. over 1800metres on grass on Jan. 9.
Pedigree Notes
One of 41 top-level winners for his Dalham Hall-based sire, Benbatl appears poised to be the first to add a Group 1 dirt crown to his turf haul. Dubawi's Hunter's Light (Ire) captured both the G1 Jebel Hatta on turf and the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 during his racing days, but the latter was contested over a Tapeta synthetic surface. The first foal out of English highweight, GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. and G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk), Benbatl is one of two winners from three foals to race. Nahrain has a juvenile filly by Sea The Stars (Ire) and a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire). His second dam, Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}) a two-time group winner, ran second in the G1 Epsom Oaks and third in the Irish equivalent in 1998.
Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R2 SPONSORED BY MUBADALA-G2, $450,000, Meydan, 2-6, NH4yo/up & SH 3yo/up, 9 1/2f, 1:56.80, ft.
1–BENBATL (GB), 126, h, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nahrain (GB) (Hwt. Filly-Eng at 9 1/2-11f,
GISW-US, SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GSP-Ire,
$1,041,961), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Bahr (GB), by Generous (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lady of the Sea, by Mill Reef
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Christophe
Soumillon. $270,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Eur & UAE at 7-9 1/2f, 2x Hwt. Older Horse-Eng at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 9 1/2-11f, MGSW-Eng, G1SW-UAE, Aus & Ger, 20-10-3-1, $5,715,821. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Military Law (GB), 126, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Marine Bleue (Ire),
by Desert Prince (Ire). (900,000gns RNA Ylg '16 TAOCT;
110,000gns HRA '19 TATJUL). O-Nasir Askar; B-Qatar
Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. $90,000.
3–Gronkowski, 126, c, 3, Lonhro (Aus)–Four Sugars, by Lookin
At Lucky. ($75,000 Wlg '15 KEENOV; 50,000gns Ylg '16
TATOCT; 300,000gns 2yo '17 TATBRE). O-Phoenix
Thoroughbred III & Khalid bin Mishref; B-Epic Thoroughbreds
LLC (KY); T-Salem bin Ghadayer. $45,000.
Margins: 2, 6 3/4, 3HF.
Also Ran: Roman Rosso (Arg), Montsarrat (Ire), For the Top (Arg), Chiefdom, Kimbear, Saltarin Dubai (Arg), New Trails.
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.
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