Saeed bin Suroor: Winx an amazing superstar but Benbatl still set for Cox Plate clash

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is in awe of Australian champion Winx, who chalked up her 20th G1 triumph and her 27th consecutive win when taking Randwick’s Colgate Optic White Stakes.

Saeed described the daughter of Street Cry as “the best of the best, an amazing superstar,” but was still firm in the belief that Godolphin’s Benbatl will prove a worthy rival in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday, 27 October.

“I believe Winx must be the best horse in Australian racing history and I doubt whether we will ever see another winning 27 races in a row and 20 G1s.

“I have the utmost respect for her. She is very special. But we are bringing Benbatl, a multiple G1 winner, who has improved significantly this year,” he said.

“The Cox Plate has been the target for him for a long time. When you plan a program for a horse such as Benbatl, you are never considering what horses you will meet.

“Clashing with Winx, or not clashing with her, was never on our minds. We planned the best program we could for our horse, what we considered the most suitable.

“He is in quarantine now and doing well. We think he will give a good account of himself in Melbourne,” he added.