Monterosso, by Dalham Hall Stud resident Dubawi, landed the 12-furlong G2 Dubai City Of Gold at Meydan on Thursday 3 March. A progressive three-year-old last season under the care of Mark Johnston, he won the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the Irish Derby. Making his first start for Mahmood Al Zarooni he was never too far off the pace under his young French rider Mickael Barzalona and ran out a comfortable winner.
Bred by Darley, Monterosso is out of the Australian-bred Barathea mare Porto Roca - herself a G1 winner and dam of four winners from four foals to race. She also has a yearling filly by Darley America stallion Elusive Quality, sire of Australian juvenile sensation Sepoy who won the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes last weekend.
Two races later Monterosso's paternal half-brother Poet's Voice just lost out in a thrilling finish in the G2 Jebel Hatta over the nine-furlong turf course. The winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last season, he and Monterosso are two of 14 Group winners worldwide sired by Dubawi in his brief stud career so far. As well as Poet's Voice he sired four G1 winners in 2010 including the 2,000 Guineas hero Makfi.
