Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the winner of last year's G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, took his Dubai campaign to a perfect two on Thursday when notching his third group win in the G2 Al Rashidiya S. at Meydan. Settling in the third flight and off the fence as Mike de Kock's much anticipated South African import Al Sahem (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) set the pace in his local debut, Benbatl had that same rival trainer's last-out carnival winner Light the Lights (SAf) (Western Winter) on his heels. Moving into the three path for running room at the quarter pole, Benbatl swept to the lead as the South African Classic winner Al Sahem (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) swiftly packed it in at the 300. Fellow Godolphin colourbearer Bay Of Poets (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) chased in vain thereafter but Benbatl was the clear class of the race.
Thursday, Meydan, Dubai
AL RASHIDIYA SPONSORED BY JEBEL ALI PORT-G2, $200,000, MEY, 2-1, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:48.42, gd.
1–BENBATL (GB), 126, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nahrain (GB) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 9.5-11f, 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
'TDN Rising Star' O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin
Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng,
9-4-1-1, $451,888. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bay of Poets (Ire), g, 4, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Bristol Bay (Ire),
by Montjeu (Ire). (€190,000 wnl '14 GOFNOV; 400,000gns yrl
'15 TATOCT) O-Godolphin; B-Ammerland Verwaltung Gmbh &
Co Kg (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. $40,000.
3–Bravo Zolo (Ire), 126, g, 6, Rip Van Winkle (Ire)–Set Fire (Ire),
by Bertolini. (€68,000 yrl '13 GOFOCT; 170,000gns HRA '16
TATOCT) O-Godolphin; B-Tipper House Stud (IRE); T-Charlie
Appleby. $20,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2, SHD.
Also Ran: Light the Lights (SAf), Earnshaw, Sharpalo (Fr), Al Sahem (SAf). Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO.
Benbatl earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a first-out win at Doncaster in April, and was pitched into the G1 Investec Derby off a third in the G3 Craven S. and a second in the G2 Dante S. A respectable fifth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the blue riband, Benbatl fulfilled his promise when dropped down to 2000 metres at Royal Ascot. Well beaten behind Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., Benbatl was a non-threatening sixth in the G3 Superior Mile at Haydock on Sept. 9. His local debut was a 2 1/4-length win in the Jan. 11 G3 Singspiel S. over this trip.
Pedigree Notes…
Benbatl is the first foal out of the GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. and G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk), herself a daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. and G3 Musidora S. winner and dual Oaks placed Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}). It is a family that traces back to the New Zealand champion La Mer (NZ) (Copenhagen II {GB}). Nahrain has an unraced 3-year-old named Ta Allak (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a 2-year-old Dansili (GB) colt named Montzar (GB) and a yearling full-sister to Benbatl. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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