Dubai: Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour goes in search of a maiden Craven Stakes victory in what he hopes will be a confidence-booster for the new British flat racing season when he sends out exciting first-outing scorer Benbatl in the Group 3 race at Newmarket racecourse on Thursday.
Surprisingly, the veteran and celebrated Emirati trainer is yet to win the famous mile contest, which acts as a trial for various European Classics — none more importantly than the English 2000 Guineas (G1), on May 6, over course and distance.
Benbatl made an impressive debut when recording a thumping seven-length victory in a Doncaster maiden over a furlong shorter on April 2.
Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride on the son of Dubawi, who opposes six other three-year-old colts headed by G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet, who is trained by William Haggas, and the Aidan O’Brien-trained G2 Vintage Stakes hero War Decree.
Bin Surour told the Godolphin website: “Benbatl won well first time out. He worked nicely over the weekend and looks to be in good form at the moment. He looks in good form, we just need to find out how good he is for the future.
“I thought he would win last time, but he won really well. We need to see something more from him in his next race,” he added on the Sportinglife website. “I think the track here will be fine for him. In the future, he will want a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.”
William Haggas is hoping to learn if Rivet has the potential to challenge for the Guineas trophy after the Fastnet Rock colt won the Champagne Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. “I’m hoping he’ll run a good race,” Haggas told At The Races.
“Andrea wasn’t happy with the track when he ran in the Dewhurst, but I think seven furlongs on quick ground, when they didn’t go that fast and we held on to him, wasn’t his ideal conditions.
“I think he should be fine on the track, personally, but if he gets stuffed, then he won’t be running in the 2000 Guineas, I suspect.
“The horse is fit enough to run a good race. He should come on for it but he’s ready to go. He’s a nice, strong, genuine galloping horse.”
O’Brien, who like Bin Surour, has oddly never won the Craven, saddles a serious contender in War Decree.
The Craven Stakes is the highlight of the Craven meeting, which officially launches the British flat racing season, and is followed by the Dubai Duty Free Classic Trials meets at Newbury over the weekend.
Although the race has not produced a 2000 Guineas winner since Mystiko in 1991, it is still used as a reliable yardstick to assess the class of the Classic generation heading into the full season.
