Benbatl continued Godolphin's triumphant week at Royal Ascot by landing the Hampton Court Stakes. Check out our race report, reaction from connections and free video replay.
15.05 Royal Ascot - Hampton Court Stakes
1st Benbatl 9/2
2nd Orderofthegarter 10/3 fav
3rd Mirage Dancer 7/1
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Report
The Investec Derby form received an early boost as Benbatl continued Godolphin's triumphant week by landing the Hampton Court Stakes.
The winner was one a number of these travelling strongly turning for home and Oisin Murphy got first run on his pursuers with a furlong and a half to run.
Fifth at Epsom, the son of Dubawi ran on strongly for pressure as favourite Orderofthegarter threw down a menacing challenge down the centre of the track, winning by half-a-length.
Mirage Dancer ran a fine race in third and, along with fourth home Taj Mahal, was clear of the remainder.
Reaction
Oisin Murphy: "I don't celebrate very often, but that one (first Royal Ascot victory) meant the world to me. It builds up in your mind and you're just trying to get it out of the way and the monkey off your back. It's fantastic to do it.
"I'm very fortunate to have a job with Sheikh Fahad and Qatar, but Saeed has been very good to me as well and to reward him with a Royal Ascot winner is fantastic.
"We had the hood off him today and fair play to Saeed and everyone at home, they got him here today in top order and he won with a bit in hand. He travelled like the best horse in the race because he was the best horse in the race. Ten furlongs is his trip, I wouldn't step him up."
Saeed Bin Suroor: "When he won first time (at Doncaster) we thought this was a horse for big races. He finished fifth in the Derby and we thought the mile and a quarter would be better for him.
"He's a nice horse for the future and Oisin is a jockey for the future. He's done a really good job for us in Dubai and here, and we're going to use him more in the future.
"It's brilliant to win at Royal Ascot. This is a hard race to win, but finally we found the right horse. We'll maybe take him to Goodwood for a Group Two, give him a break and later maybe the Champion Stakes.
"He's a horse that's improving all the time and last year he was very backward. This horse and Dream Castle were both backward, but I've liked them all winter and early this season they've shown some class.
"There's Goodwood, or the Great Voltigeur at York.
"He's still learning all the time. I've used the hood in the morning, which has helped him relax, but I left it off today and he won well."
Aidan O'Brien said of Orderofthegarter: "He has no bother with a mile and a quarter and battled well.
"He's progressing with every race, but there are no plans yet."
Sir Michael Stoute feels there is more to come from the lightly-raced Mirage Dancer.
"I was very pleased with him. He's a progressive horse. He's improving with each race and he's got a great frame he has to fill," said the trainer.
"He's got a good mind and he's a good athlete. I think he's got a good future."
