While the Dubai World Cup to be run on Saturday for a purse of $10 000 000, is a relatively new race –it was first run in 1996 –it is a race whose winners already include some breed shaping stallions, writes Sarah Whitelaw.
1997 Dubai World Cup – Singspiel (photo: Dubai Racing Club)
Unfortunately charismatic inaugural winner Cigar (Palace Music) proved infertile, but the following year the race was won by a subsequently top class stallion in the form of Singspiel (In The Wings).
The latter, was a versatile performer who won major races on both dirt and turf, and earned before retiring to Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. Singspiel, who was euthanized at the age of 18 due to laminitis, proved a consistently successful sire –with his 98 stakes winners including no fewer 14 G1 winners, including French Oaks winner Confidential Lady, Gr1 Gold Cup hero Papineau, Breeders’ Cup heroine Lahudood, and champions Dar Re Mi and Solow.
Singspiel also became the first Dubai World Cup winner to sire another winner of the race – with his chestnut son Moon Ballad prevailing in the big race in 2003.
To date, he is the only World Cup winner to have sired a World Cup winner. His influence on Dubai World Cup night, however, is not restricted to the big race itself, with his other major stakes winners including a pair of Gr1 Sheema Classic winners (Dar Rei Mi and Eastern Anthem) and 2015 Dubai Turf hero Solow.
An exceptionally versatile stallion (his progeny include Gr2 King George Stakes (over 1000m) winner Take Cover and 4000m Gr1 Gold Cup hero Papineau), Singspiel’s stock have also enjoyed considerable success in South Africa (where his half brother Rakeen made his name as the sire of Horse Of The Year and seven time champion sire Jet Master).
From a small number of South African runners, Singspiel’s representatives include Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winner and young Highlands sire Potala Palace, Gr3 Jubilee Handicap winner and promising young broodmare Candy Singer, Gr2 performer Atlantic Oak, as well as the gallant, front running feature race winner Polzeath.
3yo Unparalleled – Singspiel grandson
Another Gr1 winner by Singspiel, former 2yo champ Lateral, made a bright start with his first runners a few seasons ago, with his first crop including Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Bilateral and Gr2 Dingaans hero Unparalleled.
Singspiel is also damsire of promising local 3yo filly Bella Sonata (Silvano).
While 2000 Dubai World Cup winner Dubai Millennium died after just a single, incomplete season at stud, that brilliant son of Seeking The Gold has ensured that his name will live on thanks to the feats of his great sire son Dubawi.
The latter, a triple Gr1 winner whose victories included the Irish 2000 Guineas, was recently represented by his 100th stakes winner and currently stands for a fee of £225 000 (or over R5 000 000!)
The Darley sire’s 23 individual Gr1 winners include 2000 Guineas winners Makfi and Night Of Thunder, multiple Gr1 winner Hunter’s Light, Juddmonte International heroine Arabian Queen, Prix Du Jockey Club hero New Bay, Grand Prix de Paris winner Erupt, and G1 Gamely Stakes winner Dubawi Heights.
Dubawi is also the sire of a pair of Dubai World Cup winners –Monterosso and Prince Bishop, and his legacy looks set to continue for many years to come.
Willow Magic – young sire son of Dubawi
He too has enjoyed success in South Africa, with his handful of runners including Gr1 SA Nursery winner and young sire Willow Magic, dual Gr1 winning filly Happy Archer and Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap heroine Amber Orchid.
Dubawi has also made a pleasing start as a sire of sires – his classic winning son Makfi having sired Gr1 winners in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere in his first crop.
Makfi’s French 2000 Guineas winning son, Make Believe, has already had his first mares test in foal during his first season at stud.
Dubawi’s Gr1 QE II Stakes winner Poet’s Voice also looks exciting –his first 2yo winners last season including Italian Gr3 winner Poeta Diletto as well as Listed Ripon Champion 2yo Trophy winner Whitman. With a number of other well bred and Gr1 winning sons of Dubawi yet to be represented on the racecourse, the sky appears to be the limit for Dubawi and his sire sons.
Another outstanding sire to prevail in the Dubai World Cup was Street Cry (Machiavellian), who thrashed brilliant Arc de Triomphe hero Sakhee (Bahri) by eight and a half lengths when successful in 2002.
One of two Dubai World Cup winners for Machiavellian (also damsire of 2011 hero Victoire Pisa), the late, great Street Cry (he died in 2004) was out of Irish Oaks winner Helen Street (Troy) and his own sister produced European champion and subsequent top class sire Shamardal (sire of 16 Gr1 winners to date).
Street Cry, who has sired outstanding performers on both dirt and turf, is the sire of 100 stakes winners (his daughter Heavens Above recently provided her sire with his breakthrough black type winner).
His impressive list of 18 Grade One winners includes 3 Breeders Cup winners, a Melbourne Cup winner, a Kentucky Derby winner and a Cox Plate winner.
Zenyatta – daughter of Street Cry
Street Cry, whose daughter Zenyatta is widely regarded as one of the greatest racemares ever seen in North America, is also a proven high class sire of sires with his sons to have sired Gr1 winners including his Street Sense (whose Gr1 winning son Hallowed Crown is now a shuttle sire), Street Boss, Per Incanto and Street Hero.
Street Cry’s progeny have earned over $121 million and his death proved a serious loss to the thoroughbred industry.
Another former Dubai World Cup winner to have become a successful sire is 2008 winner Curlin (Smart Strike).
The sire of 2016 World Cup contender and Gr1 Travers Stakes winner Keen Ice, Curlin had a break out year in 2015, with his runners including Gr1 winners Keen Ice, Curalina and champion 3yo filly Stellar Wind.
Curlin is also sire of former Gr1 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, who stands his first season at Three Chimneys Farm in 2016.
