Dubawi (Dubai Millennium – Zomaradah)
Thus far, 2015 has belonged to one stallion, whose offspring have been firing all around the globe – Dubawi (Dubai Millennium).
The Darley Stud stallion has had a breakout year, even by his own exceptional standards, and has been represented by Gr1 winners in no fewer than six different countries. To date, Dubawi has been represented by 20 Group winners in 2015 – more than many sires have in a lifetime. His dominance is underlined further by the fact that Dubawi has had at least one major group/graded winner a month since January – a remarkable run of consistency for any sire.
2015 Gr1 Winners
To date Dubawi’s Gr1 winners in 2015 are Shamal Wind (Oakleigh Plate), Dubday (HH The Emir’s Trophy), Hunter’s Light (Jebel Hatta), Prince Bishop (Dubai World Cup), Postponed (King George), New Bay (French Derby), Erupt (Grand Prix de Paris), Al Kazeem (Tattersalls Gold Cup), Srikandi (Tattersalls Tiara, Stradbroke Handicap), and Night Of Thunder (Lockinge Stakes).
Affinities
Hailing from the family of one of Sadler’s Wells’ best sons (In The Wings), it has come as no surprise that Dubawi has done well with Sadler’s Wells line mares. All of Gr1 winners Hunter’s Light (Jebel Hatta), Monterosso (Dubai World Cup), and Night Of Thunder (2000 Guineas, Lockinge Stakes) are bred on the Dubawi/Sadler’s Wells cross, as are fellow pattern race winners Ahzeemah, Arabian Queen, Danadana, Fox Hunt, Kapitale, Majestic Desert, and Piping Rock, as well as this year’s Gr1 Investec Oaks third Lady Of Dubai. Another promising son of Dubawi, The Queen’s rapidly improving 3yo Dartmouth, is out of a mare by Galileo (also broodmare sire of Night Of Thunder).
Dubawi has also excelled with Mr Prospector line mares and Danzig descendants, while his recently retired four time Gr1 winner Al Kazeem is out of a mare by Darshaan. Green Desert daughters have also fared well with Dubawi, with that cross producing outstanding sprinter Lucky Nine and 2000 Guineas winner Makfi among others.
Dominance
A sign of Dubawi’s dominance at the top level can be seen that such outstanding stallions as Galileo (1), Giant’s Causeway (1), Pivotal (3), Tapit (4), Redoute’s Choice (3), and Fastnet Rock (3) are toiling well behind him in terms of individual Gr1 winners sired in 2015.
Versatile
Dubawi’s Grade One winners this year have come over a range of distances, with Shamal Wind picking up the Oakleigh Plate over 1100m, and Postponed landing the King George and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over 2400m. Remarkably, Dubawi’s 10 Grade/Group 1 winners this year are all out of mares by different broodmare sires –which is quite a compliment to their sire’s ability to do well with different stallions.
His dominance all over the world has seen Dubawi storm to the top of the sire rankings in Europe. He is currently well clear of Galileo with Dubawi’s offspring having racked up over £4.1 million, while Galileo is more than £500 000 in arrears. However, Galileo has been represented by more stakes winners in Europe than Dubawi thus far, with the son of Sadler’s Wells’ tally of black type winners standing at 21 versus Dubawi’s score of sixteen.
Dubawi is also well clear on the French General Sires List, thanks to the Gr1 wins by sons Erupt and New Bay, with the latter having also finished second in the French 2000 Guineas.
Sire of sires
Dubawi is also shaping up as a promising young sire of sires. His son Makfi has left behind Gr1 winners in his first Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere crops, in the forms of Make Believe (French 2000 Guineas) and Marky Mark (Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes) respectively, while another son, former Gr1 QEII Stakes winner Poet’s Voice is currently sixth on what looks a stronger than usual GB/Ire First Crop Sires List. It will also be interesting to see what impact Dubawi’s four time Gr1 winner, but poor fertility ridden, Al Kazeem has at stud, following the latter’s recent retirement. Another son, former Hong Kong Derby winner Akeed Mofeed, is represented by his first foals this year.
Stud legacy
Dubawi, himself inbred to Northern Dancer, has certainly benefitted from covering many of the very best female descendants of the ubiquitous Northern Dancer and the latter’s most prolific European influence, Sadler’s Wells.
The triple Group 1 winner got off to a flyer with his first crop (born in2007), producing a stunning six individual Gr1 winners –Dubawi Heights, Lucky Nine, Makfi, Monterosso, Poet’s Voice and Prince Bishop. Remarkably, two of these (Monterosso and Prince Bishop) went on to win the Dubai World Cup.
He has kept the momentum going throughout with his current 3yos including Gr1 winners Erupt and New Bay. Statistically, Dubawi is as good a stallion, and better than most currently active at stud anywhere in the world.
Statistics
In an era where top class stallions, such as Dalakhani, Fastnet Rock and Invincible Spirit are siring 7% stakes winners to foals, Dubawi is siring 11% stakes winners to foals. Even taking into account the exceptional opportunities he has had at stud, this is still a world class achievement by the son of Dubai Millennium. He is also siring more than 70% winners to runners, at the time of writing.
Amber Orchid wins the Jacaranda Handicap
From just a handful of runners locally, Dubawi has also had an impact in South Africa. His eight South African runners have all won, and they include three Graded winners (two being Grade One winners) – Amber Orchid, Happy Archer and Willow Magic (all of whom are being trained by Sean Tarry). This means Dubawi is siring a phenomenal 38% stakes winners to runners in South Africa.
Set to cover the finest mares around and with a plethora of young sire sons yet to be represented on the racetrack, Dubawi’s emerging legacy looks set to explode over the coming seasons.
