Benbatl gives ecstatic Murphy first royal winner

The Shergar Cup has been racing’s one concession to team sport but the new top owner trophy at Royal Ascot is developing into just that between the two racing giants of Godolphin and Coolmore.

As soon as Coolmore had cut the deficit to one with Sioux Nation’s Norfolk win, Godolphin struck back to lead 4-2 and give one of the myriad of jockeys they use, Oisin Murphy, his first Royal Ascot winner.

While Murphy’s elation was there for all to see as he punched the air after holding the late surge of the Coolmore favourite Orderofthegarter, winning trainer Saeed Bin Suroor was altogether more restrained and relieved to get back on the honours board.

“It has been three years without a winner,” said the trainer, who had watched Godolphin’s first-day treble raised without him and been embroiled in recent weeks in an internal Godolphin wrangling over jockeys and riding orders.

Benbatl was still a career 36th winner at the meeting for the trainer, who is clearly a fan of Qatar Racing’s retained rider Murphy – “he's a good young jockey and one for the future.”

Benbatl: being led into the winner's enclosure after victory at Royal AscotCredit: Mark Cranham

“It's about teamwork,” said the trainer, who was with Sheikh Mohammed and his family watching on. ”It's great to have another winner and Sheikh Mohammed chose this race – we thought that after the Derby he was the right horse for Royal Ascot.

“He was too far back in the Derby but in the mornings he gave us the impression he was ready to run again.”

Murphy, still only 21 and also not usually given to over emotion, has had to wait for this first royal success and it showed as he said: “It’s a massive monkey off my back – I don’t normally celebrate like that.

“It may be only a Group 3 but this meeting is very important. It feels fantastic and I’m delighted to ride the winner for Saeed.”

The race was notable for a strong pace as jockeys looked for a vital position in the short race into the Swinley Bottom bend with Murphy finding the perfect sit behind the well-backed Coolmore second string Taj Mahal.

Getting first run on his rivals halfway up the straight, Murphy found a willing partner to hang on as both Orderofthegarter and Mirage Dancer closed to take the places with the latter leaving Sir Michael Stoute still needing the winner to make him the winning-most trainer of all time at the meeting.

The Newmarket trainer, seemingly as unhurried about reaching the landmark as training his late-maturing types, said: “It was very pleasing. He’s a progressive horse – I think he’s got a good future.” Just like Godolphin, Bin Suroor and whoever is called upon to ride their Group winners.

Result and analysis