While European racing has endured an interrupted start to the season, things are now getting back into full swing and Dubawi continues to lead his peers on the sires’ tables.
The Dalham Hall Stud flagbearer is currently leading sire (for European-bred runners) by: prize money, number of Stakes winners/ wins, percentage of Stakes winners to runners, number of Group winners/ wins AND percentage of Group winners to runners. No mean feat, even by his lofty standards.
His highlight of the year so far is undoubtedly Ghaiyyath, who lowered the course record at Newmarket last Friday when so impressive in the G1 Coronation Cup (pictured). He has since been allotted a Timeform rating of 131 for his win – not only the highest of any European horse so far this year, but also the best for a son or daughter of Dubawi, ever.
Dubawi has been represented with a trio of G2 winners in 2020, including seasoned campaigner Benbatl. He won both the G2 Singspiel Stakes and G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 before finishing a creditable third in the inaugural Saudi Cup. The Dubai World Cup, had it been run, would surely been his for the taking. Already a three-time G1 winner, he will be targeting further top-flight success later in the year.
Benbatl’s full sister, Fooraat, will aim to keep up the family tradition next week at Royal Ascot. The three-year-old filly retained her unbeaten record in eye-catching fashion at Chelmsford on Monday, 8 June, winning the one-mile fillies’ novice by no fewer than seven lengths despite losing a shoe. She could now head for the G1 Coronation Stakes.
Another G2 winner is the impeccably bred Ambition, winner of the Prix Corrida at Deauville at the weekend. She is out of New Approach’s Oaks winner Talent and now has three Black Type wins on her CV.
Dubawi sired a further two Stakes winners at Haydock at the weekend in G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes victor Lord North, who was swiftly followed by Space Blues in the Listed Spring Trophy, with both achieving a Timeform rating of 120 or higher. Space Blues chased home Too Darn Hot in the G1 Prix Jean Prat last year and was also third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, so a step back up will likely be on the cards for him.
With the European racing calendar now busier it has ever been, and Royal Ascot just around the corner, hopes are high that there will be plenty more talented gallopers keeping Dubawi’s name in lights over the coming months.
