Godolphin threw out a warning that they will be a major player over the Spring Carnival in Melbourne when the imports Benbatl (GB) and Blair House (IRE) fought out a thrilling finish to the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
After beginning well from an inside barrier, Pat Cosgrove elected to take a sit on Benbatl as the Underwood Stakes winner Homesman took up the running.
Benbatl took control at the 300 metres but James Doyle on Blair House followed him through and the two imports settled down to fight out the finish.
Every time it looked as if Blair House would edge to the front, Benbatl pulled out something extra to win by a half-head from the Charlie Appleby trained gelding with Humidor two and a quarter lengths away in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, Benbatl won the Group 1 Dubai Turf on World Cup night in March.
The son of Dubawi won a Group 1 in Germany in July before finishing fifth behind Roaring Lion in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York on August 22.
His trainer said he was keen to test Benbatl against Winx in the Cox Plate.
"He's the best horse we've bought out here, he's a class horse," Bin Suroor said.
"We've bought out some horses for the Melbourne Cup in the past. "Some of them didn't stay sound but this one got class and he's got speed.
"I targeted (the Cox Plate) for him in January when he was still in Dubai.
"But the superstar Winx is in the race. It's hard to beat her. She's the best of the best, she's a superstar and I have a lot of respect for her.
Pat Cosgrove was having his first ride in Australia.
"He's a high-class horse that's his third Group 1, and I've not ridden him since he was third in the Dante," Cosgrove said.
"Oisin Murphy picked up the ride since I was last on him and I'm here to ride Best Solution in the Caulfield Cup next week, but I think the plan is for Oisin to ride him in the Cox Plate.
"He couldn't make it this week and I was glad I could step in and if he's not then I'll be here.
"I think he's a nine-or-10-furlong specialist."
A 5yo entire by champion sire Dubawi, Benbatl advances his record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 15 starts with earnings of $6,088,650.
He is the best of two winners out of the Selkirk mare Nahrain who was honoured as Champion 3YO Filly in GB in 2011 (Long).
The winner of the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera and Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes, Nahrain is a daughter of the equally talented Bahr (Generous) whose four wins included the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes while she placed in the Epsom Oaks, Flower Bowl H. and Irish Oaks.
Bahr is a granddaughter of one of the greats on New Zealand Racing, La Mer, who dominated stakes races like few others in the mid to late 1970's.
