Dubawi has been enjoying a truly outstanding year to date, with his progeny recording three Classic victories courtesy of Worthadd and Makfi , and another of his first-crop sons – Monterosso – became his sire’s seventh individual Group winner on 18 June with an emphatic victory in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Settled behind the early leaders, the Mark Johnston-trained colt was sent to the front two furlongs from home and from that point the result was never in doubt as he stayed on strongly under Frankie Dettori to win by two and a quarter lengths.
This was his fifth victory in his last six starts, having entered this race off the back of a three-and-three-quarter length win over ten furlongs at Newmarket on his last start. His trainer indicated a further step up in class to G1 level could now be on the cards, with the Irish Derby a possible target.
Bred by Darley and owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum, Monterosso is out of the Australian-bred Barathea mare Porto Roca – herself a G1 winner and dam of four winners from four foals to race.
Earlier on the Ascot card, Exceed And Excel sired his second juvenile Group performer of the week when Margot Did was beaten just a head in the G3 Albany Stakes. Her hugely creditable performance came 24 hours after her paternal half-brother Excel Bolt finished third in the G2 Norfolk Stakes.
