Benbatl dominated two turf races earlier this winter in Dubai, took a surprising loss three weeks ago in the Jebel Hatta Stakes, but was very much back on his game Saturday, winning the Group 1, $6 million Dubai Turf by several lengths. Benbatl, ridden by Oisin Murphy for trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin, ran 1800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) around one turn in 1:46.02 while winning for the fourth time in nine starts.

Neorealism pulled too hard and faded out of contention, and Crocosmia wasn't a factor, but the other three Japanese horses in the race all ran well, with Vivlos, the winner of this race last year, coming from far back to get second. Real Steel, who won the 2016 Dubai Turf, dead-heated for third with the longshot Deirdra.

Benbatl was Godolphin's best Epsom Derby prospect last year and finished a respectable fifth in the race. He was a distant fifth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, his final start in 2018, and came roaring out of the gate in his Meydan debut in January. Whether Benbatl, a son of Dubawi and the Selkirk mare Nahrain, can reproduce this excellent form in Europe later this year remains to be seen, but he definitely was the best turf-route horse to winter in Dubai this year.