Godolphin star Benbatl throws down challenge to Winx with impressive Caulfield Stakes win
GODOLPHIN star Benbatl’s Caulfield Stakes triumph could have him on a collision course with Winx, while Lloyd Williams stayer Yucatan had everyone mesmerised with his incredible victory.
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FINALLY, after three seasons of imperious domination, there might have a legitimate challenger to Winx’s Cox Plate throne.
Benbatl’s Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) victory was hardly Winx-like in the making but it oozed quality — and gave confidence to trainer Saeed bin Suroor to tackle the world’s best horse at The Valley on October 27.
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As TAB elevated the Godolphin flagbearer to $11 second favourite behind Winx ($1.20), bin Suroor said Benbatl would be given the chance to do what no other horse has managed in three years and 28 starts — beat Winx.
“The filly is the best of the best but the plan has to been to run the horse since January,” bin Suroor said.
“We take our chance and see how well we go there (Cox Plate). She is just a star.”
The highest-rated horse — 123- to come to Australia in 16 years, Benbatl reeled off impressive sectionals to deliver Irish jockey Pat Cosgrave’s maiden Australian Group 1.
Benbatl surged home the last 600m in 34.37, 400m in 22.77 and 200m in 11.57sec to deny fellow raider Blair House, also owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin army, by half a head.
Humidor, who ran Winx to a neck in last year’s Cox Plate, was just over two lengths further back.
Bin Suroor, who guided All The Good to the 2008 Caulfield Cup, has been overshadowed by Appleby in Australia over the past three years.
But Benbatl ($9) might be the horse to change the debate after stalking leader Homesman before fending off Blair House ($12).
“He look really well, he won well and there’s time now to prepare now for the big race,” bin Suroor said.
“He ran a really huge race.
“The way he ran and the way he finished gives us confidence for the Cox Plate.
“This is for Sheikh Mohammed. He made the decision to run today and in the Cox Plate.
“Charlie’s horse (Blair House) ran a huge race, really.”
Blair House and Humidor will both head to the Cox Plate.
Darren Weir said Humidor “went as good as he can go.”
“They were just too good on the day,” he said.
“He ran great and goes to the Cox Plate in a couple of weeks in great shape.
But he was disappointed in Melbourne Cup contender Tosen Basil, who beat only one home.
“It’s a bit of a head-scratcher that one, but we push on because he’s a lot better than that,” Weir said.
“I’m not sure what happened there and we’ll have to see what we do at home.”
LLOYD’S GOOD YUC CHARM TURNS HEADS
YUCATAN has emerged as the “Melbourne Cup winner in waiting” after an extraordinary Herbert Power Stakes triumph as the international contingent took an iron grip on the major Cups.
Overshadowed by stablemate The Cliffsofmoher in reputation and performance, Yucatan stormed into calculations for both next week’s Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup with devastating victory.
A $101 Caulfield Cup chance pre-race, Yucatan is now TAB $8 third favourite for Saturday’s Group 1 behind Youngstar ($5) and Kings Will Dream ($6).
He is now joint second favourite at $11 for the Melbourne Cup with fellow raider Magic Circle behind Avilius ($9) in a market where six of the top eight contenders are trained in the northern hemisphere.
Reeling off a blistering, race-ending 22.78sec split between the 600m and 200m, Yucatan ($6.50) was allowed to almost walk to the line in beating Brimham Rocks ($9.50) and another raider A Prince Of Arran ($31).
Bought in June by Lloyd Williams’ Macedon Lodge, Yucatan officially won by just a 1.25 lengths — but he could easily have steamed home by 10 lengths if not for James McDonald’s stranglehold.
The sheer nonchalance of the win stunned even part-owner Nick Williams.
Asked where Yucatan, a lightly-raced Galileo, ranks among Macedon Lodge’s army of feature race contenders, Williams said: “He sits right up there now.
“I’d be saying he’s the Melbourne Cup winner in waiting.
“The way he won there today, he’s only got to get a run.
“He was terrific, wasn’t he?
“It’s a great credit to Aidan and all his team.
“James gave it a fantastic ride.
“It was a very arrogant win, it really was. It was quite extraordinary.
“It was great for James that he didn’t have to ride the last furlong.
“I’m speechless, really.”
Starting from the outside gate, McDonald sat second last before rolling forward mid-race to sit three-wide on an unfamiliar course — and proceeded to smash a field of well-credentialled rivals.
McDonald was instructed to ride Yucatan as the best horse in the race.
“Lloyd (Williams) gave me good instructions,” McDonald said.
“He said ‘Aidan primed this horse to be here. He thinks he is a very good horse.’
“That gave me a lot of confidence.
“Ryan Moore gave this horse a bit of a wrap. He said ‘As long as this horse is happy and in a rhythm the whole way, he’ll give you a great burst.
“I was wide but these European horses just like to stride, but I just let the horse do what he wanted to do and he did the rest.
“I haven’t ridden for Lloyd for a while. He’s put me on a good one.”
The Cliffsofmoher, also trained by Aidan O’Brien, shortened from $17 to $9 for the Caulfield Cup and firmed from $26 to $17 for the November 6 Melbourne Cup.
Darren Weir was satisfied with Night’s Watch’s sixth in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes as a Cup lead-up.
“It was a pass mark,” Weir said.
“He had his chance. I think that was a pretty hot race. He has probably run as good as he can.
“Providing he has a good week, he will back up in the Caulfield Cup.”
APPLEBY DEVASTATED BY HAMADA’S LOSS
INTERNATIONAL raider Hamada has been euthanised after fracturing a leg during trackwork at Werribee.
The high-class stayer blundered near the winning post and was immediately transferred to the Werribee equine hospital.
His devastated trainer Charlie Appleby said it was a freak accident.
“On vet’s advice, the nature of the injury left us no alternative,” he said.
“The kindest course of action was to euthanise the horse.”
Lightly-raced Hamada won five of seven career starts, most recently snaring the Group 2 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on August 18.
His injury follows that of stablemate Emotionless, who was injured during Saturday morning trackwork a week ago.
Racing Victoria stewards will rule on Monday whether Emotionless is allowed to accept for next week’s Caulfield Cup after he undergoes bone scans.
TAB BIG BETS
RACE ONE
Champagne Boom showed a great turn of foot to win the Inglis Debutant Stakes (1000 metres).
Sitting towards the rear of the field and down on the rails, Craig Williams barged his way into the clear on straightening and the daughter of Spirit Of Boom did the rest.
Champagne Boom ($7-$7.50) went on to beat Biscara ($8-$6-$7) and Wedgetail ($9-$6.50-$7) who also came from the rear of the field.
The winner was actually the third most popular runner in terms of money held, behind Utzon ($4.60-$5.50 fav) and Wedgetail.
BETS: Champagne Boom $1000 @ $7.50 TWICE, $1,000 @ $7
BETS: Biscara $3000 @ $7
BETS: Wedgetail $2000 x $500 e/w @ $6.50/$2.30
RACE TWO
Iconoclasm ($4.40-$4.80) landed some nice bets after sitting just off the speed in the second event on the card.
Ridden a treat by Ben Allen, Iconoclasm raced clear to score over Fastnet Tempest ($11) and the very popular Sircconi ($4.20).
Iconoclasm was the best tried runner outside of Sircconi and the pair were easily the ones punters wanted, holding 65 per cent of the total investment.
Of the others, Grande Rosso (fourth) was a notable firmer in the past 24 hours, going from $15-$9.
BETS: Iconoclasm $2000 @ $4.80
BETS: Sircconi $2000 @ $4.20 TWICE, $1,500 @ $4.20, $2,000 @ $4
BETS: Violate $2000 @ $12, $1000 e/w @ $12/$3
RACE THREE
Sunlight delivered punters some handy collects after it was an effortless winner of the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m).
The Tony McEvoy runner was $2.60 into $2.20 off the back of heavy support and jockey Luke Currie gave its backers no cause for concern, leading throughout to beat Humma Humma ($10) and Meryl ($5-$4.60).
Sunlight went around as one of the most popular runners in Australia today, holding nearly 70 per cent of the investment and going around with more than five times the amount of money than any other runner.
BETS: Sunlight $5000 @ $2.30, $3000 @ $2.30, $4000 @ $2.25, $3000 @ $2.25, $5000 @ $2.20 TWICE
RACE FOUR
Winter Bride defied a late betting drift to narrowly take out the Cape Grim Beef Steaks (1200 metres).
Jockey Ryan Maloney squeezed into the clear midway down the straight to land the cash on the heavily backed runner, which went $3.90 out to $4.80 at the jump.
She was the second most popular runner in the race behind Leather’n’lace ($5). Booker ($11-$15-$12) and Our Crown Mistress ($26-$16-$19) filled the minors with the former being nosed out on the line.
BETS: Winter Bride $1000 @ $4.80 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1000 @ $4.60 MULTIPLE TIMES, $1000 @ $4.40 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE FIVE
Ball of Muscle gave Craig Williams another winner on the day after he raced on the speed throughout to win the Keno Schillaci Stakes (1100 metres).
The Joe Pride-trained runner was $9.50-$13-$10 on the day and attracted some interest at the eachway price, however, the majority of punters were in the corner of Voodoo Lad ($3.50-$2.70) and Snitty Kitty ($3.90-$5-$4.80).
Ball Of Muscle was Williams’ second winner of the day after piloting Champagne Boom to victory in the opener.
Spirit Of Valor ($8.50-$18) was a noted drifted but ran on to grab second while Missrock ($13) grabbed third just in front of Voodoo Lad which missed the start and was never in it.
Voodoo Lad held over half of all bets on the race and was nearly three times as popular as Snitty Kitty.
BETS: Ball Of Muscle $1000 @ $13, $500 @ $11, $660 @ $10, $530 @ $10, $500 @ $10
BETS: Voodoo Lad $2000 @ $3.40, $2000 @ $3.10, $10,000 @ $2.80, $2000 @ $2.70 MULTIPLE TIMES
RACE SIX
Amphitrite ($10-$14) defied a significant betting drift to land the Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m).
The Darren Weir-trained filly was $8 after Tuesday’s barrier draw but she continued to drift. Ridden a treat by Craig Williams, she came with a huge finishing burst to nail Fundamentalist ($81) on the line after the roughie looked to have pinched it.
Seabrook ($26) rounded out the trifecta.
Punters were left licking their wounds after Smart Melody was heavily tried. She was backed from $2.70 into $2.20 with all the big money arriving late for her. She weakened out of it after leading while Thrillster ($6) had some good money for her too but ended up just behind the placegetters.
BETS: Amphitrite $300 e/w @ $14/$3.60, $250 x $600 e/w @ $14/$3.40, $1,000 @ $13
BETS: Smart Melody $10,000 @ $2.20, $9,950 @ $2.20, $5,000 @ $2.20, $5,000 @ $2.15
RACE SEVEN
The Toorak Handicap (1600m) was a fantastic betting race but in the end, the best mover landed the money.
Land Of Plenty $6-$4.20 was crunched in betting and swept around the field to score impressively after being near last on the turn.
Damian Lane was the toast of punters who jumped on the Darren Weir runner, with the pair racing away to beat Hartnell ($6.50-$9) and Siege Of Quebec ($10).
Shillelagh, who opened the day a $5 favourite, went out the gate slightly thanks to the support for the winner and jumped an $8 chance. It wound up fourth.
Of the unplaced brigade, Jungle Cat ($9.50-$7) attracted several big bets throughout the day including $10,000 and $8000 @ $8 respectively.
BETS: Land Of Plenty $5000 @ $4.20, $3000 @ $4.20,
BETS: Jungle Cat $10,000 @ $8, $8000 @ $8, $3000 @ $8
BETS: Waging War $2000 e/w @ $16/$4.80 AVERAGED OUT
RACE EIGHT
Benbatl ($5.50-$9.50) narrowly held on to win the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) despite being a drifter in the market.
The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained runner was had some money come for him, however, it was nothing compared to the popular Unforgotten ($4.60) which held 10 times more than the winner.
Benbatl enjoyed a good run behind the leader before peeling around its heels turning for home, then fighting off the challenge of fellow Godolphin runner Blair House ($12) with Humidor rattling home for third.
Unforgotten, responsible for roughly a third of the total investment, was unplaced and went around as the most popular runner in front of Humidor and Night’s Watch ($9.50-$14).
BETS: Benbatl $1000 e/w @ $9.50/$2.90, $1,500 e/w @ $9.50/$2.90, $1,000 @ $9.50, $3,000 e/w @ $6/$2.20, $4000 @ $6.50 (taken earlier in the week)
BETS: Humidor $4000 @ $6.50
BETS: Tosen Basil $5000 @ $10
RACE NINE
The Autumn Sun ($1.65-$1.70) was the best backed runner all day and did the right thing by punters.
Delivering a hammer blow to TAB, The Autumn Sun sat three-wide the trip before putting paid to his rivals in the home straight to streak away and beat Vassilator ($101) and Oohood ($9).
The Chris Waller star held 70 per cent of the total investment and was more than 10 times as popular as the next best backed runner, which was Oohood. The Tony McEvoy horse was $15 after Tuesday’s barrier draw.
BETS: The Autumn Sun $20,500 @ $1.70, $25,000 @ $1.14 PLACE, $22,500 @ $1.16 PLACE, $9500 @ $1.70, $7870 @ $1.70, $6000 @ $1.70, $10,000 @ $1.65
RACE 10
There was a sneaky little move for Yucatan ($9.50-$6.50-$7) who was ultra impressive in taking out the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).
Ridden a treat by James McDonald, Yucatan was pulled up near the line but still had a fair margin over Brimham Rocks ($9.50) and A Prince Of Arran ($19-$41) at the finish.
It was a blowout for punters as the majority of the money was riding with Gallic Chieftain ($6-$4.80), Rising Red ($6.50) and Big Duke ($11) along with Brimham Rocks.
BETS: Yucatan $1,500 @ $10, $1,000 @ $10 MULTIPLE TIMES $2,000 e/w @ $10/$3.10, $2,000 @ $6.50
BETS: Gallic Cheiftain $3000 @ $5, $2500 @ $5, $5000 @ $4.80, $3000 @ $4.80
BETS: Rising Red $2000 @ $6.50
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