Challenger for Winx

BENBATL, touted as the northern hemisphere raider with the credentials to mount a serious Cox Plate challenge to Winx, heads a record 11 international nominations for Saturday’s Caulfield meeting.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor will fly to Melbourne to watch Benbatl contest the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), where he could face Aidan O’Brien’s Cliffs Of Moher and Charlie Appleby’s Blair House.

Benbatl is rated 123 internationally, in equal 13th place with Happy Clapper – seven points below Winx.

He is currently joint third favourite for the Cox Plate.