Cosgrave on Melbourne mission for Godolphin

Jockey Pat Cosgrave is booked to ride Benbatl for Godolphin in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Stakes in Melbourne.

Cosgrave has ridden the son of Dubawi once before — he was aboard when the colt finished second behind Permian in last year’s G2 Dante Stakes at York, with subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling back in fourth.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said from Newmarket today: “Pat Cosgrave is flying down to ride Benbatl at Caulfield. The reports I have received about the horse are good. We are very happy with him, and Saturday’s race should set him up nicely for the Cox Plate.”

Cosgrave is expected to stay on to partner stablemate Best Solution in the G1 Caulfield Cup on Saturday, 20 October.

He has won two G1s in Germany on Best Solution this year.

Meanwhile, James Doyle makes a quick return to Melbourne to ride four horses for Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin yard at the weekend.

Doyle will be aboard Blair House in the G1 Caulfield Stakes, Jungle Cat in the G1 Toorak Handicap, and Comicas in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes.

He will also ride Folkswood, who will attempt back-to-back wins in the Listed Cranbourne Cup on Sunday.

Doyle was acclaimed for his ride on Jungle Cat in winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, 22 September.