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Nothing More For Benbatl In Melbourne

3 minute read

Godolphin’s Cox Plate runner-up Benbatl will return home without another start at the Melbourne carnival.

Benbatl wins the Caulfield Stakes
Benbatl wins the Caulfield Stakes Picture: (Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor will not be tempted to run the multiple G1 winner in the $2 million Emirates Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on Saturday week.

‘’I think he wants a break now,” Saeed reported.

“He has won a Group One and finished second in the Cox Plate. He has had two hard races."

Benbatl brought his best European form to Melbourne, winning the G1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 20 before backing up seven days later to give Winx a genuine race in the Cox Plate.

’We are proud of how he has run. He was brave in finishing second to a mare, who is one of the all-time greats,” Saeed said."

‘’He has run well and I am pleased he has come out of the race OK.’’

Saeed said he intends sending Benbatle to his Dubai stable to prepare him for the international carnival at Meydan in the autumn.

‘’We will take him back to Dubai and run him there in January or February in preparation for another crack at the Dubai Turf in March,” he said.

Benbatl’s jockey Oisin Murphy will not ride again at the Melbourne carnival due to a suspension for careless riding in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley last Friday night.

It has cost him the Melbourne Cup ride on Red Verdon but he has several other international assignments ahead of him before the end of the year including the Breeders Cup at Keeneland in Kentucky and the Hong Kong International race day in December.

He has also been offered a short term riding contract in Japan from December 15 to December 28.

Winx’s jockey Hugh Bowman will also return to Japan for a month long riding stint from November 24 to December 23.
Racing and Sports

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