Godolphin fielded a quartet in the newly upgraded G3 Singspiel S. at Meydan on Thursday, and it was favoured Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who kicked the Dubai World Cup Carnival off in style for the boys in blue. Godolphin also visited the winner's circle Thursday with D'Bai (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the sixth race, a 1400-metre handicap on the grass.
Safely away from gate five, Benbatl was quite full of himself, tossing his head and Oisin Murphy had the unenviable task of settling the 4-year-old. Eventually he found cover by the 1500-metre mark back in fourth one off the fence next to barnmate Carry on Deryck (GB) (Halling), as Sharpalo (Fr) (Shamardal) showed the way. Sliding through a gap on the far turn, Benbatl shifted into high gear by the 500m marker and tackled the leader, but fellow Godolphin colourbearer and G2 Champagne S. hero Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal) took dead aim a few lengths back. Ultimately Benbatl brushed aside that rival in a matter of strides and quickened smartly away to score by 2 1/4 lengths. Earnshaw (Medaglia d'Oro) was 3/4 of a length back in third.
“Saeed gave me an open book as how to ride him and they are a very straightforward team to ride for,” Murphy said. “I just looked for a bit of cover and then when I asked him, he picked up very well. He was a bit keen early on but he tends to be and, if you look after the line, he was still running away. He is a very nice horse, progressive and is going to get better. I am very grateful for these opportunities on such nice horses on big nights, especially with His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed here.”
Benbatl graduated on debut at Doncaster last April and added a third in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket later that month, before a second in the G2 Dante S. at York in May. Sent postward in the G1 Epsom Derby, the bay made up some late ground to take fifth, but returned a winner in the G3 Hampton Court S. at Ascot on June 22. Fifth to subsequent Horse of the Year Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. on July 29, the son of dual Group 1 winner Nahrain (GB) ended 2017 with a sixth in the Sept. 9 G3 32red Superior Mile S. on Sept. 9.
Pedigree Notes…
The first foal out of G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. heroine Nahrain (GB), Benbatl is followed by the unraced 3-year-old Ta Allak (GB) (New Approach {GB}), a juvenile colt by Dansili (GB) and a yearling full-sister. His second dam is the MGSW Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}), who was runner up in the G1 Epsom Oaks and took third in the Irish equivalent, as well as the G1 Flower Bowl Invitational S. This is the extended family of Australian Group 1 winner (He's) Our Rokkii (NZ) (Roc de Cambes {NZ}), while four dam is the outstanding La Mer (NZ) (Copenhagen II {GB}), a New Zealand Horse of the Year, and a champion at two, three and five. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
SINGSPIEL S. (PRESENTED BY LONGINES LADIES MASTER COLLECTION)-G3, $175,000, MEY, 1-11, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:46.99, gd.
1–BENBATL (GB), 125, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nahrain (GB) (Hwt. 3yo Fily-Eng at 9 1/2-11f,
SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr & US, GSP-Ire, $1,041,961), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Bahr (GB), by Generous (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lady of the Sea (GB), by Mill Reef
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Oisin
Murphy. $105,000. Lifetime Record: 8-3-1-1, $331,888. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Emotionless (Ire), 126, g, 5, Shamardal–Unbridled Elaine, by
Unbridled's Song. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (IRE); T-Charlie
Appleby. $35,000.
3–Earnshaw, 126, h, 7, Medaglia d'Oro–Emily Bronte (GB), by
Machiavellian. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al
Maktoum; B-Darley (KY); T-Salem bin Ghadayer. $17,500.
Margins: 2 1/4, 3/4, SHD.
Also Ran: Opal Tiara (Ire), Basateen (Ire), Bay of Poets (Ire), Light the Lights (SAf), Carry On Deryck (GB), Cape Byron (GB), Sharpalo (Fr), Linguistic (Ire), Sanshaawes (SAf), Farrier, Good Trip (Ire). DNF: Tannaaf (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart. Emirates Racing Video.
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