Dubawi off to a flyer at Meydan

The first Group race of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival, the G3 Singspiel Stakes, fell to Godolphin on Thursday, 11 January when Dubawi’s four-year-old son Benbatl led home a one-two for Darley stallions with Emotionless (Shamardal) in second. Always close up behind the leaders, he made his move at the top of the straight, running on well to record an easy two-and-a-quarter length victory.

Unraced as a juvenile, Benbatl soon became a top-flight performer last season, with a G3 victory at Royal Ascot in the Hampton Court Stakes (pictured) and excellent placed efforts in the G2 Dante and G3 Craven Stakes.

He is the first foal of the Selkirk mare Nahrain, who twice scored at the highest level in the Prix de l’Opera and Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes. She also has an unraced New Approach three-year-old, named Ta Allak and in training with Roger Varian, a yearling filly by Dubawi, and is due to visit the same sire again this season.

Dubawi, who is standing this season at a fee of £250,000 Oct 1, SLF, is the sire of 93 lifetime Group winners including 33 that have won at the highest level. He was also the world’s leading yearling sales sire last season with an average of £751,000, the third successive year that he has achieved that feat.