Benbatl led home a Godolphin one-two in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes.

The four-year-old is being lined up for a crack at Winx in the Cox Plate and this success, under Pat Cosgrave, will raise expectations they can give the mare a race.

Bin Suroor said: “He needed this race. He has been in very good form and he will now go to the Cox Plate.

“That has given us confidence for the Cox Plate. It has been our target since January when he was in Dubai.

“But Winx is in the race, she is the best of the best.

“She is a superstar, I have a lot of respect for her.”

It was a one-two for Godolphin, with Charlie Appleby’s Blair House in second, while O’Brien’s Cliffs Of Moher flew home to finish just out of the places.