Dubawi's tremendous season continued in outstanding style on 1 May, when his first-crop son Makfi stormed to victory in the 2,000 Guineas to become his sire’s first winner at the highest level and second Classic winner this year.
Settled off the pace under Christophe Lemaire, Makfi was always travelling well and began to move through the field once past the halfway stage. Hitting the front with a furlong left to run, the Mikel Delzangles-trained colt stayed on superbly to win by a length and a quarter.
This was his third victory in as many starts, having booked his ticket to Newmarket with an impressive victory in the G3 Prix Djebel on 8 April. His trainer indicated that he could now return to Great Britain for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
Bred by Shadwell Stud and now running in the colours of Mathieu Offenstadt, Makfi is out of the unraced Green Desert mare Dheelal, a half-sister to Alhaarth.
Dubawi, who is also sire of Italian 2,000 Guineas winner Worthaad and French 1,000 Guineas contender Anna Salai, has sired more Group winners (five) than any other European stallion at this stage of their career in the last 20 years, ahead of Oasis Dream, Giant’s Causeway, Invincible Spirit and Danehill Dancer to name but a few.
