Group 1 aces Benbatl and Poet’s Word to bypass Eclipse in favour of Juddmonte assignment
The two Group 1 winners had originally been aimed at the Sandown contest but will head to York instead
YORK is to be the ultimate aim for Benbatl and Poet's Word, after both were ruled out of a trip to Sandown for the Coral-Eclipse.
The former is looking to bounce back from a poor showing in the Queen Anne Stakes, while Sir Michael Stoute's improver will attempt back-to-back Group 1 victories after overhauling Cracksman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Benbatl had been well fancied before the first race on the opening day of the Royal meeting, having stormed clear to land the Dubai Turf in March.
However, despite being sent off 11-4f the four-year-old son of Dubawi could never land a blow, finding the red-hot pace a bit too much.
That was an uncharacteristically poor display from Saeed bin Suroor's colt, particularly considering he'd won three of his four previous starts.
A step back up in trip is on the cards now, with the Juddmonte International in August the likely next port of call for the former Dante second.
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Bin Suroor said: "I was worried about the ground at Ascot. Ten days before he had been working on the Watered Gallop in Newmarket which was different ground and he had been working really well. The ground at Ascot didn't suit him."
He added: "We will keep to mile-and-a-quarter races for him now, but the Eclipse is too soon for him.
"We are looking at the Juddmonte International as his main target. Before this we could either go for the Sky Bet York Stakes with a penalty or the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich.
"He has come back sound and we will keep options open for him."
Also heading to the Juddmonte will be Sir Michael Stoute's Poet's Word.
The son of Poet's Voice has taken on a new lease of life this term, with a second in the Dubai Sheema Classic followed by convincing victories in both the Brigadier Gerard Stakes and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Those were career best performances and it appears that at the age of five, he is beginning to finally fulfil his potential.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, said: "I don't think he'll go for the Eclipse, he could go for the King George, but Sir Michael also has Crystal Ocean (winner of the Hardwicke Stakes) and there wouldn't be a lot between them.
"Sir Michael usually makes the right judgement in these things. I'm sure that the right horse will go for the King George. Whether Poet's Word does or not, it's up to Sir Michael.
"A good race for Poet's Word would be the Juddmonte International at York, which I think he'll go for. Whether he'll run before that, I don't know."