Stakes Quotes: AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 2 (GROUP 2)

OFFICIAL STAKES QUOTES

AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 2 (GROUP 2)
$450,000 | 1900m (dirt)

Winner: BENBATL
Pedigree: Dubawi – Nahrain (Selkirk)
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Official Time: 1:56.80
Track Record: 1:55.18 – Mendelssohn, 2018
Stakes Record (Meydan Dirt): 1:56.67 – Frosted, 2016
Margin of Victory: 2 Lengths

Christophe Soumillon, Jockey, BENBATL (1st)—“He was the best horse in the field by far. For sure, it was the first time on the dirt, but when the horses are really good, they can handle both surfaces. He has good gate speed, which is important for dirt racing. He was cruising the whole way. I was worried on the back straight, because he didn’t change legs properly—I had to force him twice to stay on his right leg. On the last turn, he stayed on his right leg for 200m, so I was little disappointed. Finally, he changed and when I came into the straight, I could feel straight away that he was able to run away and he did quite impressively.”

Saeed bin Suroor, Trainer, BENBATL (1st)—“It’s good to see him really travel well and win that easily. To see the jockey, who rode Thunder Snow to win the last two Dubai World Cups, ride him with confidence and in the last three furlongs he’s still on the bridle shows his class. We have always known he’s a special horse on the turf, but Sheikh Mohammed wanted to run him on the dirt to see how he would run and it was a good decision from the boss. Sometimes you just have to give the horses a chance (on the dirt). Some can handle both surfaces. He handled it well and Christophe kept him handy in the race, which was the plan for him. He won it well, thank God. It was a good decision.”

Antonio Fresu, Jockey, MILITARY LAW (2nd)—“I ride this horse almost every day and I am pretty sure this is a good horse. Since he has come to Mussabeh Al Mheiri’s stables, he has been doing so well and with every gallop he is improving day by day. He is really nice on the dirt. He proved himself in The Entisar Stakes, when he won the Listed race in December. Today he came back after a little break of two months. Nineteen hundred metres is a bit short, as he would prefer ten furlongs. We will see next time.”

Mickael Barzalona, Jockey, GRONKOWSKI (3rd)—“He ran a good race. He’s still not 100% fit yet, so he’s going to improve a lot from this run.”

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