The outstanding Dubawi and the most successful British stallion ever, recorded a remarkable 99th Group winner on Friday, 22 June, when his wonderfully consistent son Old Persian took the King Edward VII Stakes (also known as the Ascot Derby) in impressive style.
Bowling along under William Buick during the early stages of the race, Old Persian was asked to make a decisive move approaching the three-furlong pole and soon took up the lead. From then on, Charlie Appleby’s charge simply could not be caught as he comfortably held off his rivals to win by a length and three quarters.
Old Persian now has five victories to his name, having broken his maiden by three and a quarter lengths last September before following up with an even wider-margin win at Newmarket the following month, where he beat subsequent G1 Belmont Stakes second Gronkowski. He made a successful reappearance at the Craven meeting this April and added his first Black Type win last month when landing the Fairway Stakes, also on the Rowley Mile.
Old Persian is out of the Singspiel mare Indian Petal, a full-sister to another Royal Ascot winner in Silkwood, who won the Ribblesdale back in 2007. She is also a half-sister to Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Silent Honor and is from the family of Teofilo’s talented son Permian.
Dubawi now has seven Group winners out of Singspiel mares, headed by G1 winners Wuheida and Left Hand.
Among Dubawi’s 99 Group winners are no fewer than 35 who have won at G1 level, including fellow Dalham Hall Stud residents Night Of Thunder and Postponed. This year, Benbatl and North America have been flying the flag at the highest level for their sire.
