DUBAI TURF,

GROUP 1

BENBATL gave Sheik Mohammed plenty of reason to be joyful when he held off a strong challenge, especially from the Japanese runners, in the $6 million, nine-furlong Group 1 Dubai Turf. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor was winning the feature for the sixth time, but it was a first in the race for Irish-born jockey Oisin Murphy.

Murphy was making amends for a defeat on the same horse in the Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday, something he blames himself for. He made no mistake this time and a furlong and a half from home he put daylight between himself and the rest of the field. Vivlos, last year’s winner, stayed on in second place, three and a quarter lengths behind the winner, with fellow Japanese-trained Real Steel, the 2016 winner, and Deirdre dead-heating for third prize.

Murphy said: “Last time I gave him a bad ride, so it was very good of Sheikh Mohammed and Saeed to keep me on him. Today he had a good trip and showed his class. My trip was very good. The horse was in brilliant condition. I work hard in the mornings and I dream about riding horses like this. To get the opportunity is fantastic. Saeed bin Suroor and his stable have done a good job with this horse. He only started his three-year-old campaign this time last year and he’s come a long way in a short space of time.”

The winning trainer added, “I thought he was my best chance of a winner on the evening, and am glad to have been proved right by a very good horse.

“We saw last year that he is a good horse and I am so happy with him. He was weak as a two-year-old, so we looked after him and he won his maiden well first time up. He made a good start to his career that day and has kept on progressing. He has won his Group 3 and Group 2 and now he has won his Group 1, which is great to see. He will have a break now and then he will go for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

The winner is a son of Dubawi and won in one minute 46.02 seconds, just outside the race record time. Bred by Darley, and the 35th Group or Grade 1 winner for his sire, the celebrations were completed when the winners’ trophy was presented to Sheikh Mohammed’s daughter Sheikha Jalila.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien said of his two unplaced runners: “Little bit disappointing. Lancaster Bomber [11th] is better than that form. War Decree [9th] ran fairly well.” A field of 15 went to post.