More success for Lucky Nine

Lucky Nine, a son of Dubawi previously known as Luck or Design, continued his superb record in Hong Kong when landing the Listed Chairman’s Sprint Prize, a local G1 contest, at Sha Tin. Held up near the rear early, he came with his customary burst in the straight to win with something to spare by three-quarters of a length. This was his 11th career victory and took his earnings past the £3 million mark. The possible next step for Lucky Nine is a trip to Dubai for the G1 Golden Shaheen, a race in which he was third last season.

Bred by Darley, he is out of the Green Desert mare Birjand, a cross that has also produced Group winners Makfi and Dubawi Gold. Birjand, who is a daughter of G1-winning juvenile Belle Genius, has also produced a pair of recent Group colts in Japan by Storming Home, namely Sudden Storm and Teehaff. She unfortunately lost her foal by Dubawi this season, but is due back to visit him soon.

Dubawi, who stands this season at £75,000 at Dalham Hall Stud, sired an impressive ten G1 horses in 2012, making him one of Europe’s premier stallions. One of those ten, the G1 winner Hunter’s Light, has made sure that 2013 has started along the same lines, improving again to win the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 at Meydan. He is a likely strong candidate for the Dubai World Cup, a race won last season by his paternal half-brother Monterosso.