Watch out Winx, here comes Benbatl

– It’s on! A real challenger to Australian super mare Winx in the Cox Plate has emerged.

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor brought Benbatl to Australia to take on Winx and that is exactly what he will do after getting the better of Blair House in a thrilling Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes at Caulfield racecourse on Saturday.

The two Godolphin runners forged clear up the straight, with Pat Cosgrave leading the way from the box seat on his first ever ride at Caulfield. But James Doyle followed him through and gradually drew alongside. For most of the final 200m there was no more than a head in it, with Benbatl just holding on.

Cosgrave said: “Benbatl’s a high-class horse, I was surprised he was such a big price and the first and second are two very good horses. It’s a hell of a training performance and he was very tough.”

“I’ve had the target of the Cox Plate for him since January when he was still in Dubai,” said Bin Suroor. –

Melbourne