The Newmarket trainer has been chasing the gems of the spring carnival for close on two decades and, apart from the shock G1 Caulfield Cup victory of All The Good (IRE) (Dieses {GB}) 10 years ago, he’s come up frustratingly short.
This time around, Bin Suroor has found the line easier to cross with Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {IRE}) kick-starting the charge with victory in the G1 Caulfield S., as he bids to dethrone Winx (Street Cry {IRE}) of her Cox Plate crown next weekend.
Water-tight solution
And on Saturday, he produced Best Solution (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}), who found all the answers for owner Sheikh Mohammed to down Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) in a driving finish in the G1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup.
The willing 5-year-old overcame a torrid run with a performance that puts him right to the forefront of G1 Melbourne Cup discussions.
“He won two Group 1s in Europe and he’s run a brilliant race, a great result,” Bin Suroor said.
“The horse has run very well and it’s a dream for us to win two Group 1s here, it’s great.” – Saeed Bin Suroor.
“The horse has run very well and it’s a dream for us to win two Group 1s here, it’s great. He’s a tough horse and Sheikh Mohammed tries to send his best horses here.”
Best Solution had to overcome a wide barrier and instructions to Irish rider Pat Cosgrave were clear and concise.
“I said you need to be somewhere handy, he went early and the horse won well,” Bin Suroor said.
Saeed Bin Suroor with Best Solution
Determined effort
Best Solution had to work hard early to be with the pace and race in the leading quartet. When The Taj Mahal (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) was set alight from midfield by James McDonald to go to the front 600 metres from home, Cosgrave made his move.
He urged the 5-year-old to the front on the turn and the top weight held the strongest of gallops under his top weight of 57.5kg to repel the challenge of Homesman, who was in receipt of four and a-half kilos.
Best Solution
The Cliffsofmoher (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) came on gamely for third ahead of Duretto (GB) (Manduro {GER}) and The Taj Mahal wilted to be the next home.
“We had a bad draw and a bad trip. I went early and he came to be beaten, but he was too tough.” – Pat Cosgrave.
“I can’t believe it, all credit to the horse,” Cosgrave said. “We had a bad draw and a bad trip. I went early and he came to be beaten, but he was too tough.
“I had to work hard to get up there and I was five deep on the first bend. I thought I had used too much petrol to get there.
“Caulfield is a great place and to have two big winners here is dreamland. It’s just crazy and shows anything is possible.”
