The first meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan proved very successful for Champion sire Dubawi, who was responsible for two Stakes winners on the night, both for Godolphin.
Al Suhail came with a devastating late run in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort to add a second victory at that level to his record. Settled towards the rear early on in the seven-furlong contest under James Doyle, he was asked to quicken approaching the two-furlong marker and once in front, eased clear to eventually win by four lengths.
Al Suhail won the G2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket in 2021. Bred by Meon Valley Stud, he is one of three Stakes winners out of English and Irish Oaks second Shirocco Star.
Later on the same card, the sprinters lined up in the Dubai Dash, run over the minimum trip. Lazuli is a seasoned Dubai campaigner and he wasted little time opening his 2023 account with a gutsy win over his stablemate Man Of Promise, adding a fifth Black Type win to his record in the process.
Lazuli won last year’s G2 Blue Point Sprint at Meydan and has also enjoyed Group success in the UK, having won the G3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in 2021.
A Godolphin homebred, Lazuli is out of the Stakes-winning juvenile Floristry, whose six foals to race have all won.
Dubawi enjoyed his best year ever in 2022, siring seven individual G1 winners including the horses that won the Platinum Jubilee, the 2,000 Guineas and the St Leger.
Dubawi has six stallion sons on the current Darley European roster: outstanding young sire Night Of Thunder, Too Darn Hot – whose first runners hit the track this year, World Champion Ghaiyyath, Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Space Blues, Postponed, and new to the Kildangan roster for 2023 – Royal Ascot sprint superstar Naval Crown.
