Dubawi enjoyed a sensational Group-race double at Royal Ascot on 22 June, when his daughter Coronet got up in the shadow of the post to win the G2 Ribblesdale, shortly after Godolphin colt Benbatl swept to victory in the G3 Hampton Court.
Coronet was held up towards the rear under Olivier Peslier early in the 12-furlong contest and coming with a perfectly-timed late run, took the lead just approaching the finishing line to win by a head.
Coronet, who is trained by John Gosden, was unbeaten at two where she rounded off her season with victory in the Listed Zetland Stakes at Newmarket. Earlier this year, she was third to her paternal half-sister Sobetsu in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, before finishing fifth in the Oaks.
Owned and bred by Denford Stud, Coronet is one of five winners out of the Stakes-winning Darshaan mare Approach, also dam of G2 winner and Irish Derby and St Leger second Midas Touch.
Just one race earlier, three-year-old Dubawi colt Benbatl, who has been a hugely exciting performer for his sire this year ever since winning by no less than seven lengths on his racecourse debut, added a first Group win to his record in superb style when landing the G3 Hampton Court Stakes.
Settled in fifth position under Oisin Murphy, Benbatl was switched out once entering the home straight and asked for his effort at the two-furlong marker, accelerated impressively to take the lead and comfortably saw off the late challenge from Orderofthegarter to win by a length.
Since breaking his maiden in April, Saeed bin Suroor’s charge has raced solely in Group company, finishing third in the Craven before beaten less than a length in the Dante. Benbatl was then a fast-finishing fifth in the Derby – another performance that indicated it would simply be a matter of time before he won at Pattern level.
Benbatl is the first foal to race out of multiple G1 winner Nahrain, herself a daughter of Ribblesdale winner and English Oaks second Bahr. Nahrain produced a full sister to Benbatl earlier this year.
Coronet and Benbatl are among 17 individual 2017 Black type winners for Dubawi, also sire of G1-winning duo Sobetsu and Almanaar. He is also sire this year of seven horses who have placed at G1 level.
Dubawi has now sired 29 Group winners over a mile-and-a-quarter including top-flight scorers Hunter’s Light, Monterosso, Akeed Mofeed, Prince Bishop, New Bay, Arabian Queen, Sobetsu and Dubawi Heights.
