Benbatl

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Benbatl
Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2
(2020)

Benbatl (foaled 15 February 2014) is a British

Cox Plate
. In 2019 he secured the first of two victories in the Joel Stakes. He won the Singspiel Stakes for a second time in 2020, and the Joel Stakes for a second time in 2021. At the end of the 2021 season he was retired to stud.

Background

Benbatl is a bay horse with a white

star bred in England by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud and owned by the Godolphin organisation. He was sent into training with Saeed bin Suroor whose horses are based at Newmarket, Suffolk in summer but typically spend the winter at Godolphin's base in Dubai
.

He was sired by

Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes in 2012.[3] Nahrain was a daughter of the Ribblesdale Stakes winner Bahr, who was in turn a granddaughter of La Mer.[4]

Racing career

2017: three-year-old season

Benbatl made his racecourse debut on 2 April 2017 when he started the

furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse in which he was ridden by Josephine Gordon and won "readily" by seven lengths from eleven opponents.[5] The colt was immediately moved up in class and distance for the Group 3 Craven Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse and finished third behind Eminent and Rivet, beaten two lengths by the winner. At York Racecourse in May he contested the Group 2 Dante Stakes (a major trial race the Epsom Derby) over ten furlongs. He started the 4/1 favourite but after briefly taking the lead in the straight he was beaten into second place by the Mark Johnston-trained Permian, with Crystal Ocean and Rekindling
in third and fourth.

In the

Royal Ascot the colt started the 9/2 second choice in the betting behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Orderofthegarter in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes over ten furlongs. Ridden by Oisin Murphy, he tracked the leaders, went to the front approaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly to win by half a length from Orderofthegarter.[6] After the race Saeed bin Suroor said "today's trip was brilliant for him. He was in a nice position and kicked really well. He is a nice horse for the future. We will keep the options open. He could be anything".[7]

Benbatl returned to the highest class and took on older horses for the first time in the

Haydock Park
in September.

2018: four-year-old season

Winter and spring: Dubai

For the winter and early spring of 2018 Benbatl was relocated to Godolphin's racing base in Dubai was campaigned at Meydan Racecourse, being ridden in all his races by Oisin Murphy. He began his campaign in the Group 3 Singspiel Stakes over 1800 metre on 11 January in which he started favourite and won "comfortably" by two and quarter lengths from Emotionless.[9] In the Group 2 Al Rashidiya over the same course and distance on 1 February he won "easily" by almost four lengths from Bay of Poets having taken the lead 300 metres from the finish.[10] The colt was expected to complete a hat-trick in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta on 10 March but in a slowly-run race he was unable to run down Godolphin's outsider Blair House and was beaten three quarters of a length into second place.

Three weeks after the Jebel Hatta Benbatl met Blair House again in the Dubai Turf, with Murphy's mount starting the 4/1 favourite. Among the other 13 runners were Coolmore's Lancaster Bomber, the Darley Stakes winner Monarch's Glen and a five-horse Japanese contingent including Vivlos (winner of the race in 2017), Real Steel (winner in 2016) and Neorealism (Queen Elizabeth II Cup). After tracking the front-runner Janoobi, Benbatl took the lead in the straight and drew away to win easily by more than three lengths from Vivlos.[11] Murphy commented "Last time [in the Jebel Hatta] I gave the horse a bad ride and it was very good of Sheikh Mohammed and Saeed to give me another chance on him. I was determined to make amends and once in that position I was pretty sure I would win. It's very hard to find a world-class horse to ride, but he is a horse you dream about. He's very talented and today he had a good trip and showed his class. Today everything fell right."[12]

Summer: Europe

On his first appearance after his return to Europe, Benbatl started 11/4 favourite against twelve opponents in the Group 1

Cox Plate.[14]

On his third and final European start of 2018, Benbatl was ridden by Jim Crowley when he was sent off at odds of 10/1 for the International Stakes over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse on 22 August. He briefly took the lead approaching the last quarter mile but was soon overtaken and came home fifth behind Roaring Lion, Poet's Word, Thundering Blue and Saxon Warrior. He was struck into during the race and sustained cuts to his legs. After the race he entered quarantine to prepare for his journey to Australia.[15]

Autumn: Australia

Benbatl arrived in Australia on 29 September as part of a large Godolphin team which also included Blair House and

starting stalls, Benbatl was settled in second place by his new jockey Pat Cosgrave as Homesman set the pace. He took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and got the better of a sustained struggle with his old rival Blair House to win by a short head.[16] When asked about the colt's prospects against Winx in the Cox Plate Cosgrave said "I think he is going to be on his A-game to win that is for sure. She's a great mare. I don't know if I want to ride him. If I did happen to beat her I would have to scurry out of the country fairly quick".[17] On 27 October Benbatl started second favourite for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse After settling in third behind Rostropovich and D'Argento he moved up on the outside to dispute the lead on the final turn. He was soon overtaken by Winx, but kept on well for second, two lengths behind the winner. His rider Oisin Murphy said "Winx was completely dominant. I gave it my best shot and so did Benbatl... I thought I’d give her a race and in fairness to him, he didn’t stop. He hit the line but she was just too good. Full credit to everyone".[18]

In the 2018 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Benbatl was given a rating of 123, making him the fourteenth best horse in the world.[19]

2019: five-year-old season

Benbatl was given a long break in 2019 and did not return to the track until 27 September when he contested the Group 2 Joel Stakes over one mile at Newmarket and started 4/1 second favourite behind the three-year-old King of Comedy. He was sent into the lead by Murphy from the start and drew away in the final furlong to beat King of Comedy by five lengths. Saeed bin Suroor indicated that the horse would be aimed at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes while Murphy commented "I haven't slept much this week with excitement. There was no pressure on today as it was a prep run, but he hasn't had a slap and he was electric. It's a fantastic feeling. He is the best around".[20] On his only other race of the year he started favourite for the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October but appeared to be unsuited by the heavy ground and finished last of the sixteen runners.

In the 2019 World's Best Racehorse Rankings Benbatl was given a rating of 125, making him the ninth best racehorse in the world.[21]

2020: six-year-old season

As in 2018 Benbatl began his next campaign in Dubai where he was ridden by Soumillon in two races at Meydan. On 9 January he went off the 1/8 favourite for the Singspiel Stakes (now a Group 2 race) and led from the start before drawing away in the last 200 metres and winning "easily" by almost five lengths.

Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2 and started the joint-favourite alongside Gronkowski. After settling just behind the leaders Benbatl went to the front 500 metres from the finish and recorded another easy win, coming home two lengths clear of Military Law.[24] After the race Soumillon said "He seemed happy on the surface and then really quickened when I asked. We knew he was a very good horse and now we know he can handle the dirt so it gives the owners and trainer a lot of exciting options."[25]

Benbatl ran for the second time on dirt when he contested the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup on February 29 over a distance of 1800 metres at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh. With Murphy in the saddle he raced in mid-division before staying on in the straight and took third place behind Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou with Mucho Gusto, Tacitus and McKinzie finishing behind.[26] He was expected to reappear in the Dubai World Cup in March, but the meeting was abandoned as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[27]

After an absence of almost seven months Benbatl returned to the track at Newmarket in September and attempted to repeat his 2019 success in the Joel Stakes. Although he started favourite, Murphy opted to ride the three-year-old Kameko, and Benbatl was partnered by Frankie Dettori. He led for most of the way before being overtaken in the closing stages and finishing third behind Kameko and Regal Reality.[28]

In the 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Benbatl was rated on 118, making him the equal 80th best racehorse in the world.[29]

2021: seven-year-old season

Benbatl was kept out of training in the early part of the season due to injury. He returned to the racecourse on 28 August 2021 to contest the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Ridden by Murphy, he went off at 9/4 favourite and was beaten a short head by 9/1 chance Lavender's Blue. The following month saw Benbatl secure victory in the Joel Stakes for the second time, again ridden by Murphy. His last appearance of the season was in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot where, ridden by Pat Cosgrave, he started at 33/1 finished ninth of ten runners.[30]

In November 2021 it was announced that Benbatl had retired and would stand as a stallion at Big Red Farm in Japan.[31]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Benbatl (GB), bay horse, 2014[1]
Sire
Dubawi (IRE)
2002 		Dubai Millennium (GB)
1996
Seeking the Gold
(USA) 		Mr. Prospector
Con Game
Colorado Dancer (IRE) Shareef Dancer (USA)
Fall Aspen (USA)
Zomaradah (GB)
1995 		Deploy Shirley Heights
Slightly Dangerous (USA)
Jawaher (IRE) Dancing Brave (USA)
High Tern
Dam
Nahrain (GB)
2008 		Selkirk (USA)
1988 		Sharpen Up (GB) Atan (USA)
Rocchetta
Annie Edge (IRE) Nebbiolo (GB)
Friendly Court
Bahr (GB)
1995 		Generous (IRE) Caerleon (USA)
Doff the Derby (USA)
Lady of the Sea (IRE) Mill Reef (USA)
La Mer (NZ) (Family 6-d)[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Benbatl pedigree". Equineline.
  2. ^ "Dubawi Stud Record". Racing Post.
  3. ^ "Nahrain – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  4. ^ a b "Constance – Family 6-d". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  5. ^ "Purple Vouchers Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 2 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Hampton Court Stakes result". Racing Post. 22 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Hampton Court winner Benbatl has a range of options". Timeform. 23 June 2017.
  8. ^ "King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes result". Racing Post. 29 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Singspiel Stakes result". Racing Post. 11 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Al Rashidiya result". Racing Post. 1 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Dubai Turf result". Racing Post. 31 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Benbatl wins Dubai Turf under Oisin Murphy". Sky Sports.
  13. ^ "Bayerisches Zuchtrennen result". Racing Post. 29 July 2018.
  14. ^ Trice, Kitty. "Benbatl bounces back with Group 1 victory in Munich to set up Winx clash". Racing Post.
  15. Sydney Morning Herald
    .
  16. ^ "Caulfield Stakes result". Racing Post. 13 October 2018.
  17. ^ Lynch, Michael (13 October 2018). "Benbatl stakes his claim as a Winx challenger". The Age.
  18. ^ Riley, Stuart (28 October 2018). "Duretto's Melbourne Cup place in doubt after lameness scare". Racing Post.
  19. ^ "The 2018 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  20. ^ Milnes, David. "Back with a bang: Benbatl returns with electric victory in Joel Stakes". Racing Post.
  21. ^ "The 2019 World Thoroughbred Rankings". IFHA. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  22. ^ "Singspiel Stakes result". Racing Post. 9 January 2020.
  23. ^ Ford, Jason (9 January 2020). "Benbatl Starts Season With Strong Singspiel Score". The Blood Horse.
  24. ^ "Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 2 result". Racing Post. 6 February 2020.
  25. ^ Ford, Jason (6 February 2020). "Benbatl Shines in Dirt Debut at Meydan". The Blood Horse.
  26. ^ Harding, Jonathan. "Maximum Security digs deep to take the inaugural Saudi Cup in Riyadh". Racing Post.
  27. ^ "Dubai World Cup: One of the world's richest horse races is postponed over the coronavirus pandemic". BBC Sport. 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Joel Stakes result". Racing Post. 25 September 2020.
  29. ^ "The 2020 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  30. ^ "Benbatl". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  31. ^ "Godolphin globetrotter Benbatl retired to take up stallion duties in Japan". Racing Post. 4 November 2021.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benbatl&oldid=1180471075"