BENBATL could take in the world’s richest race, the $20 million dollar Saudi Cup, en route to the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup following his facile victory on Thursday in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at the sixth meeting of the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival in Meydan. The seven-race $1.38 million card also included the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas and the Listed Dubai Sprint.

Making his debut on dirt, Godolphin’s triple Group 1 winner was majestic under Christophe Soumillon. Switched out around the turn, he took command and held off fellow Dubawi offspring Military Law by two lengths and was just 0.13 of a second off Frosted’s 2016 stakes record.