First tests come back clear for horses in Newmarket quarantine
Exciting Godolphin trio Benbatl (Dubawi), Best Solution (Kodiac) and Prize Money (Authorized) looked in excellent order as they all made their way steadily up Warren Hill together.
All trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the trio have lofty targets when they land in Australia with Benbatl likely to clash with Winx (Street Cry) in the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27, while Best Solution and Prize Money hold an entry in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
Meanwhile, fellow Melbourne Cup entrant Withhold (Champs Elysees), who was last seen winning the Northumberland Plate (2m½f) at Newcastle and he looked in fantastic order on Side Hill yesterday.
The Roger Charlton-trained gelding has been assigned 53 kilograms, and currently sits in 49th on the order of entry for the Flemington showpiece.
Richard Prentice, quarantine manager at IRT, told ANZ Bloodstock News that everything was going to plan with all the horses first tests coming back clear.
“All the testing has been fine so far,” said Prentice. “They had the second set of testing on Monday, which was everything like bloods, nasal swabs and the colts had CEM swabs, those results will come through in the next couple of days.
“Next Monday will be a nasal swab and that’s it, which will be the last few tests before they fly out.”
Read ANZ’s daily Quarantine Diary to keep up to date with all the horses heading to the spring carnival.