Dubawi’s International Influence

by Ken McLean

In 1996, on March 20, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was told his mare Colorado Dancer had produced a strong bay colt by Seeking the Gold, a Graded stakes winning son of the mighty Mr Prospector. Named Dubai Millennium, this colt would become his owner’s favourite homebred performer.

An outstanding Group 1 winner, Dubai Millennium won 9 of 10 starts including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Gr1, Prince of Wales’s Stakes Gr1, Dubai World Cup Gr1, Prix Jacques Le Marois Gr1 and Prix Eugene Adam Gr2. He entered stud at Dalham Hall in 2001with a wonderful line up of mares to be covered, but in April he contracted ‘grass sickness’ and by the end of the month had to be euthanized. It was a tragedy for the Darley Stud team.

From a tiny number of foals in Dubai Millennium’s first and only crop, it’s truly amazing how a son named Dubawi would rise like a phoenix to establish a dynasty of stakes winners in 9 countries. In 2022 he become Leading Sire in Europe and stands at 350,000 Pounds service fee.

Dubawi was born at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket on February 7, 2002. A bay colt, devoid of any white markings, he was ridden by Frankie Dettori in all but one of his races. At 2 years he was unbeaten with three victories, including the Superlative Stakes Gr3 at Newmarket and the National Stakes Gr3 at the Curragh. At 3, he was favourite for the English 2,000 Guineas Gr1 but could only manage fifth, after which he progressed to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas Gr1 defeating Oratorio and finish a gallant third in the English Derby Gr1 to Motivator. In August he returned to win the Prix Jacques Le Marois Gr1 at Deauville and was runner-up in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

Dubawi’s father Dubai Millennium was linebred to America’s Horse of the Year Native Dancer via a son Raise A Native and via a daughter Natalma. As well, he was linebred to brilliant miler Tom Fool via a son Buckpasser and a daughter Mrs Peterkin and linebred to champion War Admiral via two daughters.

Dubawi’s dam Zomaradah (DeployJawaher by Dancing Brave) was bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. She was named Champion 3YO of Italy in 1998 and Champion Older Mare of Italy in 1999. Zomaradah won the Oaks d’Italia Gr1, Premio Lydia Tesio Gr2, E. P. Taylor Stakes Gr2 and Royal Whip Stakes Gr3. A highclass performer, she was runner-up in the Premio Federico Tesio Gr3, Ribblesdale Stakes Gr2 and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Gr1. Among her foals was Lancashire Oaks Gr2 winner Emirates Queen. The female line goes back to Sunbittern, an up and coming branch of the Number 9 Family. Sunbittern (Sea Hawk - Pantoufle by Panaslipper) is the grand-dam of High Rise, 5 wins including the English Derby Gr1. Dubawi is a small, symmetrical stallion whose physical type suits a variety of mares. His progeny become more powerful as they develop maturity with age. Although Dubawi is linebred to

PEDIGREE ANALYSIS Dubawi DUBAWI (IRE)

NEW BAY, Chestnut colt, 2012

Northern Dancer via two sons, Shareef Dancer and Lyphard, he received speed from reinforcement of Raise A native (sire of Mr Prospector). This comes via the second dam of Deploy (Shirley Heights-Slightly Dangerous by RobertoWhere You Lead by Raise A Native).

Deploy, the broodmare sire of Dubawi, is bred on classic lines. His sire Shirley Heights and grandsires Mill Reef and Roberto were all winners of the English Derby Gr1. Even though Deploy is linebred to Nearco and Mumtaz Mahal he was unable to stamp his progeny with speed. Deploy won two races and finished runnerup in the Irish Derby Gr1. He was only a moderate success at stud despite the fact he traced in female line to the sensational filly Noblesse, winner of the English Oaks Gr1. Mixing the strain of Danehill with Sadlers Wells and Galileo certainly upgraded racing class, especially at distances of a mile or more.

We know Mr Prospector’s strain is very successful when mixed with the strain of Danehill. Furthermore, Mr. Prospector’s strain nearly always nicks with descendants of Sadler’s Wells. A good example is champion Galileo, by Sadler’s Wells from Urban Sea by Miswaki, son of Mr. Prospector.

Sire Of Sires

Dubawi has become a sire of sires. He has many successful sons able to sire Group winners and I predict he is destined to become a champion broodmare sire. Dubawi exceeds as a sire of stakes winning colts. Paradoxically, his sons show a bias towards siring more high-class fillies than colts. Why is this so? On reflection, Dubawi’s chestnut progeny seem to mature faster than his bay or brown progeny and inherit slightly less stamina. MAKFI, the first son of Dubawi to go to stud won the English 2,000 Guineas Gr1 and Prix Jacques Le Marois Gr1. Born in 2007, Makfi entered stud in England at Tweenhills Stud and stood in France at the Aga’s Haras de Bonneval, 20152016. He shuttled to Westbury Stud in New Zealand for five years before being sold to stand the 2017 season in Japan. Makfi is the sire of Bonneval, twice New Zealand’s Horse of the Year and Champion 3YO Filly. Bonneval’s victories include the New Zealand Oaks Gr1, ATC Australian Oaks Gr1 and Underwood Stakes Gr1. He also sired Sofia Rosa (ATC Australian Oaks Gr1) and promising young sire Make Believe (French 2,000 Guineas Gr1 and Prix de la Foret Gr1)

NIGHT OF THUNDER (2011) by Dubawi from Forest Storm by Galileo, is an attractive chestnut horse, winner of the English 2,000 Guineas Gr1 and Lockinge Stakes Gr1. He was runnerup in the St. James’s Palace Stakes Gr1 and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Gr1. He commenced duties in 2016 at Kildangan Stud and stood two seasons at Dalham Hall before returning to Ireland. He has shuttled to Victoria. After studying his pedigree one would expect his fillies to make an impact as stakes producers. There has always been a successful connection between the strains of Sadlers Wells and Shirley Heights in terms of supplying superior racing class. Night of Thunder shares this combination. Shirley Heights is very much a version of his

DESERT HERO, Chestnut colt, 2020

PEDIGREE ANALYSIS Dubawi SEA THE

NIGHT OF THUNDER (IRE), Chestnut colt, 2011

The pedigree of New Bay reveals 4 x 4 to Mr Prospector via sons, 5 x 4 to Mill Reef via both sexes plus four sources of Northern Dancer. Further back we see Raise A Native duplicated via both sexes. New Bay commenced stud duty at Ballylinch Stud, Ireland, in 2017 and is siring exciting Group winners. His progeny include Saffron Beach (Sun Chariot Stakes Gr1, Prix Rothchild Gr1, Duke of Cambridge Stakes Gr2), Bay Bridge (Champion Stakes Gr1, Brigadier Gerard Stakes Gr1), as well as New Energy (second Irish 2,000 Guineas Gr1) and New Mandate (Royal Lodge Stakes Gr2) The Aga Khan’s homebred colt ZARAK (2013) (Dubawi-Zarkava by Zamindar) is also linebred 4 x 4 to Mr Prospector via sons, with Mill Reef appearing 5 x 5 via sons. It is a family rich in stamina. Zarak’s dam was an undefeated champion performer tracing in direct female line to the famous grey filly Mumtaz Mahal. Zarkava is inbred to the three-quarter brothers The Minstrel and Nijinsky II, both English Derby Gr1 winners.

Zarak won the Grand Prix de SaintCloud Gr1, Dubai Millennium Stakes Gr3 and was runner-up in the Prix du Jockey Club Gr1 and Prix Ganay Gr1. He stands at Haras de Bonneval having entered stud in 2018.

TOO DARN HOT (2016) the Champion 2YO of Europe, was bred by Watership Down Stud. By Dubawi, he is out of Dar Re Mi by Singspiel and therefore linebred 4 x 5 to Sunbittern via two daughters. Raced by Lord Lloyd-Webber, at 2 he won the Dewhurst Stakes Gr1, Champagne Stakes Gr1 and Solario Stakes Gr3 all over 7 furlongs. At 3, Too Darn Hot won the Sussex Stakes Gr1 and Prix Jean Prat Gr1, was second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas Gr1, Dante Stakes Gr2 and finished third at Royal Ascot in the St. James’s Palace Stakes Gr1. Retired in 2020 to stand at Dalham Hall Stud, he shuttles to Darley Kelvinside, Australia and descends from the same family as Darshaan, Champion 3YO in France and influential sire. The female line traces to Marcel Boussac’s famous mare Tourzima.

champion father Mill Reef and the mix of Mill Reef with Sadlers Wells often resulted in the production of Group winners. (The likely key to this mix is the duplication of Kentucky Oaks winner Lalun via her best sons Never Bend and Bold Reason). Among Night of Thunder’s progeny are Kukeracha (Queensland Derby Gr1), Thundering Nights (Pretty Polly Stakes Gr1), Auyantepui (Italian Oaks Gr2), Suesa (King George V Stakes Gr2), Thunderous (Dante Stakes Gr2), Under The Stars (Princess Margaret Stakes Gr3) and Cherry Tortoni (Moonee Valley Vase Gr2).

NEW BAY (2012) is a high-class chestnut racehorse bred by the late Prince Khalid Abdullah. His dam Cinnamon Bay (by Zamindar, son of Gone West) is a chestnut mare who apparently throws back to Gone West’s chestnut dam Secrettame. None of New Bay’s grandparents were chestnut, the coat colour being inherited as a recessive characteristic. New Bay won 5 of 10 starts including the Prix du Jockey Club GR1, Prix Niel GR2 and ran third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Gr1. He won two Group 2 stakes in Germany over 2,000m.

TIME TEST (2012) is a bay horse by Dubawi out of Passage of Time by Danehill. He won 6 races worth $830,948 including the York Stakes Gr2, Joel stakes Gr2, and Brigadier Gerard Stakes Gr3. His dam, bred by Juddmonte Stud, was the winner of 5 races including the Criterium de Saint-Cloud GR1 and Musidora Stakes Gr3. Time Test stands at the National Stud, Newmarket and shuttles to Little Avondale Stud, New Zealand.

GHAIYYATH (2015) was Horse of the Year in Europe and shuttles for Darley’s Northwood Park, Victoria. He is based at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket. A tough, genuine stayer with courage, he won 9 of 15 starts and also voted Champion Older Horse. His wins include the Coronation Cup Gr1, Eclipse Stakes Gr1, International Stakes Gr1, Grosser Preis von Baden Gr1 and Prix Harcourt Gr2. By Dubawi, his dam Nightime is by Galileo. Ghaiyyath is linebred to Mr Prospector and Northern Dancer which means America’s Horse of the Year Native Dancer plays a major role in his pedigree pattern.

Other Major Stakes Winners

Dubawi is also sire of Al Kazeem (Prince of Wales’s Stakes Gr1, Eclipse Stakes Gr1), Postponed (King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Gr1), Monterosso (Dubai World Cup Gr1), Poet’s Voice (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Gr1), Lord North (Prince of Wales’s Stakes Gr1), Tiger Tees (The Galaxy Gr1), Rebel’s Romance (Breeders’ Cup Turf Gr1), Yibir (Breeders’ Cup Turf Gr1), Coroebus (English 2,000 Guineas Gr1), Modern Games (French 2,000 Guineas Gr1, Breeders’ Cup Mile Gr1) and Space Blues (Breeders’ Cup Mile Gr1).

Among the most outstanding fillies

Dubawi sired are Secret Admirer (Epsom Handicap Gr1, Flight Stakes Gr1), Shamal Wind (Oakleigh Plate Gr1), Srikandi (Tattersalls Tiara Gr1, Stradbroke Handicap Gr1), Bateel (Prix Vermeille Gr1), Left Hand (Prix Vermeille Gr1), Coronet (Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Gr1), Wild Illusion (Prix de l’Opera Gr1), In Italian (Diana Stakes Gr1), Wuheida (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Gr1) and Kitesurf (Prix Vermeille Gr1).

Godolphin’s Space Blues (Dubawi- Miss Lucifer by Noverre) is linebred 5 x 4 to to Sunbittern and 4 x 4 to Shirley Heights. A fast sprinter-miler, he won 11 of 19 starts including the Prix Maurice de Gheest Gr1, Prix de la Foret Gr1, Breeders’ Cup Mile Gr1, City of York Stakes Gr2 etc and was trained by Charlie Appleby.

A classic winner from Sunbittern’s female line is Virginia Waters (KingmamboLegend Maker by Sadlers Wells-High Spirited by Shirley Heights-Sunbittern). She won the 2005 English 1,000 Guineas GR1 and is linebred to the 3/4 brothers Nureyev and Sadlers Wells.

A KING’S VICTORY

His Majesty King Charles III was delighted with the victory of homebred colt DESERT HERO in Royal Ascot’s King George V Stakes. Trained by William Haggas for H M The Queen when placed third as a juvenile in last year’s Solario Stakes, Desert Hero has now won 3 of 5 starts to date and has a fascinating pedigree pattern. Desert Hero is by European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars (son of Urban Sea) from Desert Breeze by Dubawi from Galatee by Galileo (son of Urban Sea). In past articles I advocated duplicating Urban Sea and her dam Allegretta to aim for stakes runners.

SHAQUILLE, Bay colt, 2020

Recently a 3YO chestnut colt named Star of Wins was Group 1 placed in the valuable King Saudi bin Abdulaziz Cup. The colt is inbred and has a rather unique pedigree pattern. He is by Sea The Stars (Cape Cross-Urban Sea by Miswaki-Allegretta) from Ninas Terz by Tertullian (MiswakiTurbaine by Trempolino-Allegretta).

The standout at Royal Ascot’s June festival was PADDINGTON, an exciting colt by Siyouni from Modern Eagle by Montjeu. The bay colt has won 5 of 6 starts including the Irish 2,000 Guineas Gr1, Tetrarch Stakes (Listed) and St. James’s Palace Stakes Gr1. Paddington is linebred to Nureyev 4 x 4 with Sadler’s Wells in the third remove of his pedigree. Sadler’s Wells is of course ¾ brother to Nureyev. Paddington’s grand-dam is linebred to Alydar, Grade 1 winning son of Raise A Native.

Shaquille

Another standout at Royal Ascot was Shaquille, a bay colt by Charm Spirit from Magic by Galileo from Danehurst by Danehill. Apart from being linebred 4 x 3 to Sadler’s Wells, Shaquille is linebred 4 x 4 to Danzig and 5 x 5 x 5 to Mr Prospector. Shaquille’s dam Magic is inbred 3 x 3 to that great broodmare sire Miswaki (Mr Prospector-Hopespringseternal by Buckpasser). From 7 starts Shaquille won 6 including Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup Gr1 (6 furlongs) and Newbury’s Carnarvon Stakes (Listed).

I Am Invincible

Congratulations to I Am Invincible becoming Australia’s Leading Sire for 2022/23. Standing at Yarraman Park Stud for the Mitchell family, the handsome stallion has demonstrated his ability to upgrade racing class and stamp progeny with sound conformation. With stallion service fees increasing everywhere, small horse breeders needs to search for “value” to find compatible sires to test with their broodmares. Breeding to race has never been as rewarding as it is today. Prize money offered in Australia is constantly increasing to benefit owners, trainers and jockeys but most commercial stallion fees are out of range for the horse breeder with a limited budget. No wonder New Zealand owners look to Australia to grab a slice of the big money offered by race clubs. When times are tough, the tough get going - therefore I should remind readers to consider foal share agreements to be able to use preferred sires for specific broodmares when service fee budgets are limited. There will always be surprises emerging from humble backgrounds. Recall the example of how Australia’s champion sprinter inherited the “lucky genes” to enable him to defeat older sprinters and win “The Everest” as a three year-old. His name is Giga Kick. His pedigree does not immediately shout out Group 1 potential yet he achieved fame, nevertheless.

DESERT HERO, Chestnut colt, 2020

PEDIGREE ANALYSIS Dubawi SEA THE

NIGHT OF THUNDER (IRE), Chestnut colt, 2011

The pedigree of New Bay reveals 4 x 4 to Mr Prospector via sons, 5 x 4 to Mill Reef via both sexes plus four sources of Northern Dancer. Further back we see Raise A Native duplicated via both sexes. New Bay commenced stud duty at Ballylinch Stud, Ireland, in 2017 and is siring exciting Group winners. His progeny include Saffron Beach (Sun Chariot Stakes Gr1, Prix Rothchild Gr1, Duke of Cambridge Stakes Gr2), Bay Bridge (Champion Stakes Gr1, Brigadier Gerard Stakes Gr1), as well as New Energy (second Irish 2,000 Guineas Gr1) and New Mandate (Royal Lodge Stakes Gr2) The Aga Khan’s homebred colt ZARAK (2013) (Dubawi-Zarkava by Zamindar) is also linebred 4 x 4 to Mr Prospector via sons, with Mill Reef appearing 5 x 5 via sons. It is a family rich in stamina. Zarak’s dam was an undefeated champion performer tracing in direct female line to the famous grey filly Mumtaz Mahal. Zarkava is inbred to the three-quarter brothers The Minstrel and Nijinsky II, both English Derby Gr1 winners.

Zarak won the Grand Prix de SaintCloud Gr1, Dubai Millennium Stakes Gr3 and was runner-up in the Prix du Jockey Club Gr1 and Prix Ganay Gr1. He stands at Haras de Bonneval having entered stud in 2018.

TOO DARN HOT (2016) the Champion 2YO of Europe, was bred by Watership Down Stud. By Dubawi, he is out of Dar Re Mi by Singspiel and therefore linebred 4 x 5 to Sunbittern via two daughters. Raced by Lord Lloyd-Webber, at 2 he won the Dewhurst Stakes Gr1, Champagne Stakes Gr1 and Solario Stakes Gr3 all over 7 furlongs. At 3, Too Darn Hot won the Sussex Stakes Gr1 and Prix Jean Prat Gr1, was second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas Gr1, Dante Stakes Gr2 and finished third at Royal Ascot in the St. James’s Palace Stakes Gr1. Retired in 2020 to stand at Dalham Hall Stud, he shuttles to Darley Kelvinside, Australia and descends from the same family as Darshaan, Champion 3YO in France and influential sire. The female line traces to Marcel Boussac’s famous mare Tourzima.

champion father Mill Reef and the mix of Mill Reef with Sadlers Wells often resulted in the production of Group winners. (The likely key to this mix is the duplication of Kentucky Oaks winner Lalun via her best sons Never Bend and Bold Reason). Among Night of Thunder’s progeny are Kukeracha (Queensland Derby Gr1), Thundering Nights (Pretty Polly Stakes Gr1), Auyantepui (Italian Oaks Gr2), Suesa (King George V Stakes Gr2), Thunderous (Dante Stakes Gr2), Under The Stars (Princess Margaret Stakes Gr3) and Cherry Tortoni (Moonee Valley Vase Gr2).

NEW BAY (2012) is a high-class chestnut racehorse bred by the late Prince Khalid Abdullah. His dam Cinnamon Bay (by Zamindar, son of Gone West) is a chestnut mare who apparently throws back to Gone West’s chestnut dam Secrettame. None of New Bay’s grandparents were chestnut, the coat colour being inherited as a recessive characteristic. New Bay won 5 of 10 starts including the Prix du Jockey Club GR1, Prix Niel GR2 and ran third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Gr1. He won two Group 2 stakes in Germany over 2,000m.

TIME TEST (2012) is a bay horse by Dubawi out of Passage of Time by Danehill. He won 6 races worth $830,948 including the York Stakes Gr2, Joel stakes Gr2, and Brigadier Gerard Stakes Gr3. His dam, bred by Juddmonte Stud, was the winner of 5 races including the Criterium de Saint-Cloud GR1 and Musidora Stakes Gr3. Time Test stands at the National Stud, Newmarket and shuttles to Little Avondale Stud, New Zealand.

GHAIYYATH (2015) was Horse of the Year in Europe and shuttles for Darley’s Northwood Park, Victoria. He is based at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket. A tough, genuine stayer with courage, he won 9