NZ Bred Humidor wins NZB Caulfield WFA Championship Title

Media Release - Sunday October 14

Godolphin starsBenbatl(Dubawi) and Blair House(Pivotal) went to war in an exciting Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on Saturday, but a fast-finishing third in the A$1 million race by New Zealand-bred star Humidor(NZ) (Teofilo) secured him the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Caulfield WFA Championship title.

Humidor - image Grant CourtneyHumidor headed into Saturday's final leg of the Series with 17 points to his name, having won the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), along with a third placing in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m). A top-four finish was all he needed with the title, withHomesman(War Front) andTosen Basil(Harbinger) his only potential threats with 10 and 8 points respectively.

The Caulfield Stakes drew an exceptional weight-for-age field and promised to be a memorable contest, and it did not disappoint.

After racing in midfield for most of the journey, Benbatl and Blair House strode to the lead together soon after straightening for home. They fought an epic battle through the last 200 metres, which Benbatl ultimately won by a head. He was ridden to victory by Pat Cosgrave.

Humidor ran home strongly from a long way back to run third, two and a quarter lengths behind the first pair.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Benbatl has now had 15 starts for seven wins, three placings and more than A$6 million (NZ$6.56 million) in prize-money. The Caulfield Stakes was his third Group 1 win, having previously scored in the Dubai Turf (1800m) and Grosser Dallmayr Preis (2000m).

"He ran a really huge race," Bin Suroor said on Saturday. "He finished really well, and that's given us confidence for two weeks later to run in the Cox Plate.

"That's the target for him. I've had that target for him since January when he was still in Dubai. But the superstar Winx is in the race. It's hard to beat her. She's the best of the best. But our horse is doing well. He's won three Group Ones now."

Humidor finishes the Caulfield WFA Championship with 23 points. Blair House moved up to second with 12 points, with Homesman third on 11.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.