The Darley stallions recorded their second consecutive victory in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, when Singspiel's three-year-old daughter Hibaayeb landed the coveted 12-furlong contest by almost four lengths.
Settled towards the rear under Frankie Dettori, the Godolphin filly took up the running a furlong and a half from home and once in front, quickened clear impressively to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths. Her paternal half-sister – Sheikh Hamdan’s Eldalil – also put up an excellent performance to take second.
Hibaayeb is already a G1 winner, having broken her maiden in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot last September. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, she is out of the winning Lion Cavern mare Lady Zonda and is from the family of the great Oh So Sharp. Lady Zonda has a colt foal by Authorized and has been covered by Cape Cross this year.
The Ribblesdale was won by fellow Godolphin filly Flying Cloud last year, who is by Darley Japan stallion Storming Home who sired his first G1 winner last weekend when Jakkalberry took the Gran Premio di Milano.
Also on Thursday at Ascot, Dubawi's fantastic season continued when his three-year-old son Afsare put up a determined performance to take the ten-furlong Listed Hampton Court Stakes.
Bred by Darley and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum, Afsare is out of the winning Fairy King mare Jumaireyah (who was also trained by Luca Cumani). She has a two-year-old filly by Tiger Hill and a 2010 full brother to Afsare.
