Saeed bin Suroor's triple Group 1 winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is back in training and eyeing the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 19 for a potential return to action.
The 6-year-old, a former winner of the G1 Dubai Turf, G1 Grosser Preis Dallmayr and G1 Ladbrokes S., showed a new dimension when winning the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 over the dirt at Meydan in February before finishing third in the inaugural Saudi Cup. He was favoured for the G1 Dubai World Cup before that event was scrapped due to coronavirus.
“Benbatl is well. We gave him a break after Dubai,” said bin Suroor. “In August we will start looking at races for him. He's in the Juddmonte at York and when we get closer to the race we'll see how he is.
“Whether he stays in training next year, to go to Saudi Arabia and Dubai again, we'll have to see how he runs this year and I'll talk to the boss [Sheikh Mohammed]. He's a very consistent horse and always shows his class. He's as good on turf and dirt and ran a big race in Saudi. He was favourite for the World Cup, they all had him to beat.”
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