The Darley stallions got the new month off to a flying start on Wednesday, 1 May with Black Type winners for Farhh and Dubawi, plus a second winner in as many days for first-season sire Brazen Beau.
Dee Ex Bee (Farhh), who chased home Masar (New Approach) in last year’s Derby, ran out the very easy winner of the G3 Sagaro Stakes, run over two miles at Ascot.
Always travelling well under William Buick, Dee Ex Bee was asked for his effort once entering the final four furlongs and taking the lead two furlongs out, eased clear of his rivals to win by three and a quarter lengths.
Dee Ex Bee raced solely in Stakes company last year, finishing second in the Chester Vase and the Derby before recording third-place finishes in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern. His trainer Mark Johnston indicated after the race that he would now be aimed at next month’s Ascot Gold Cup.
Dee Ex Bee is out of Dubai Sunrise, a full sister to the great Dubai Millennium. She has a Shamardal colt at foot.
Also on Wednesday, Dubawi’s son Plumatic added a second Group victory to his record, sweeping down the Saint-Cloud straight to land the G2 Prix du Muguet.
Plumatic is owned and bred by Wertheimer et Frere and is out of the G1-winning Anabaa mare Plumania. She is herself a half-sister to Balladeuse (Singspiel), dam of Dubawi’s G1-winning daughter Left Hand.
Brazen Beau has made a superb start with his first European runners and recorded his second winner in as many days with an impressive victory for Avengers Queen over five furlongs in Rome.
Avengers Queen was bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud and is out of the multiple winner Showstopper, a half-sister to Mill Reef winner Temple Meads.
