Dubai Fountain throws herself into Oaks contention

Talented daughter of Teofilo lands Cheshire Oaks to line up her bid for Classic glory

Teofilo recorded a new Stakes winner (and his 97th overall) on Wednesday, 5 May when his three-year-old daughter Dubai Fountain added a well-deserved first Black Type victory to her record in the Cheshire Oaks.

Last seen finishing a creditable fourth in the G1 Fillies’ Mile last year, Dubai Fountain raced prominently under Franny Norton throughout and took up the running two furlongs out. The Mark Johnston-trained filly comfortably held off a sustained challenge from Zeyaadah and eventually won the 11-and-a-half-furlong contest by a length, with almost five lengths further back to third.

Dubai Fountain won her first two starts as a juvenile – the latter by eight and a half lengths - and has raced solely in Stakes company ever since. She recorded second-place finishes in the G3 Sweet Solera and G2 May Hill Stakes (beaten less than a length by Dubawi’s Indigo Girl) and has never finished outside of the first four. She will now head straight to Epsom for the G1 Oaks on Friday, 4 June.

Dubai Fountain is out of the winning Dubawi mare Nafura, herself a half-sister to G1 winners Dubai Destination and Librettist. She is also a half-sister to prolific producer Inner Secret, dam of G1 winner Royal Marine (Raven’s Pass), multiple Group winner Secret Ambition (Exceed And Excel) and Dubawi’s Stakes-winning daughter Crystal River.

Dubai Fountain becomes the 17th Stakes performer in 2021 for Teofilo, also sire of this year’s Dubai Gold Cup hero Subjectivist. She is also represents further success for the Teofilo/ Dubawi mare cross, which has now produced 31% Stakes winners to runners and 54% Stakes horses to runners.

Teofilo, who sired an exceptional six G1 winners in 2020, stands at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €30,000, Oct 1, SLF.