At stud, Dubawi has been a highly-successful breeding stallion, siring major winners such as Monterosso, Al Kazeem, Makfi, Lucky Nine and Night of Thunder.

[5] The colt was immediately moved up in class and distance for the Group 3 Craven Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse and finished third behind Eminent and Rivet, beaten two lengths by the winner.

He started the 4/1 favourite but after briefly taking the lead in the straight he was beaten into second place by the Mark Johnston-trained Permian, with Crystal Ocean and Rekindling in third and fourth.

Nineteen days later at Royal Ascot the colt started the 9/2 second choice in the betting behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Orderofthegarter in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes over ten furlongs.

Ridden by Oisin Murphy, he tracked the leaders, went to the front approaching the final furlong and stayed on strongly to win by half a length from Orderofthegarter.

[7] Benbatl returned to the highest class and took on older horses for the first time in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on 29 July.

[8] On his final run of the year the colt failed to show his best form, finishing sixth when favourite for the Group 3 Superior Mile on heavy ground at Haydock Park in September.

[10] The colt was expected to complete a hat-trick in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta on 10 March but in a slowly-run race he was unable to run down Godolphin's outsider Blair House and was beaten three quarters of a length into second place.

[11] Murphy commented "Last time [in the Jebel Hatta] I gave the horse a bad ride and it was very good of Sheikh Mohammed and Saeed to give me another chance on him.

"[12] On his first appearance after his return to Europe, Benbatl started 11/4 favourite against twelve opponents in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over one mile at Royal Ascot in June.

Ridden by Christophe Soumillon he was among the early leaders and briefly gained the advantage two furlongs out before fading badly and coming home in tenth place behind the 33/1 upset winner Accidental Agent.

[14] On his third and final European start of 2018, Benbatl was ridden by Jim Crowley when he was sent off at odds of 10/1 for the International Stakes over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse on 22 August.

He briefly took the lead approaching the last quarter mile but was soon overtaken and came home fifth behind Roaring Lion, Poet's Word, Thundering Blue and Saxon Warrior.

[17] On 27 October Benbatl started second favourite for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse After settling in third behind Rostropovich and D'Argento he moved up on the outside to dispute the lead on the final turn.

[19] Benbatl was given a long break in 2019 and did not return to the track until 27 September when he contested the Group 2 Joel Stakes over one mile at Newmarket and started 4/1 second favourite behind the three-year-old King of Comedy.

Saeed bin Suroor indicated that the horse would be aimed at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes while Murphy commented "I haven't slept much this week with excitement.

After settling just behind the leaders Benbatl went to the front 500 metres from the finish and recorded another easy win, coming home two lengths clear of Military Law.

"[25] Benbatl ran for the second time on dirt when he contested the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup on February 29 over a distance of 1800 metres at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.

With Murphy in the saddle he raced in mid-division before staying on in the straight and took third place behind Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou with Mucho Gusto, Tacitus and McKinzie finishing behind.