Dubawi (Ire) has lengthy been established as a sire of worldwide advantage. This weekend at Del Mar, nonetheless, he took his repute to a different stage, siring three winners on the Breeders’ Cup-something by no means earlier than achieved by a sire within the assembly’s 37-year historical past.
Twelve sires have equipped two winners in a single Breeders’ Cup. That was first completed by Cox’s Ridge within the second Breeders’ Cup in 1985 when Life’s Magic took the Distaff and Twilight Ridge the Juvenile Fillies. 4 different sires did it when the Breeders’ Cup was a single-day occasion: Nureyev in 1987 with Miesque and Theatrical (Ire); Kris S. in 1993 with Hollywood Wildcat and Brocco; Sadler’s Wells in 2003 with Excessive Chaparral (Ire) and Islington (Ire); and Superior Once more in 2004 with Ghostzapper and Wilko.
Because the Breeders’ Cup grew to become a two-day occasion in 2007, seven extra sires have joined the ranks of turning out two winners in a single 12 months. The seemingly ageless More Than Ready earns first point out, having finished it twice, in 2010 and 2017. More Than Ready stays the Breeders’ Cup’s main sire by winners, with a cumulative seven, edging out Sadler’s Wells and Unbridled’s Music with six apiece.
Good Strike notched a high-profile double at that first two-day Breeders’ Cup at Monmouth Park with Curlin within the Traditional and English Channel within the Turf. Chester Home added his title the next 12 months and was then joined by Mizzen Mast in 2012, Metropolis Zip in 2014 and Medaglia d’Oro in 2017. Into Mischief was the newest sire to tug off the double with Genuine and Gamine in 2020.
After which, alongside got here the Dubawis (and their coach Charlie Appleby, jockey William Buick and proprietor/breeder Godolphin) to Del Mar to tear aside the historical past books. Fashionable Video games (Ire) received issues going (in admittedly dramatic vogue) to offer his coach a 3rd win in eight years within the Juvenile Turf. Like Fashionable Video games, Area Blues (Ire) was despatched off favorite for the Mile and delivered a seamless victory beneath Buick. The third of the trio, Yibir (GB), nonetheless, did not permit connections to breathe simple within the Turf, pulling exhausting out of the gates and preventing Buick earlier than lastly settling in a joint final after just a few furlongs. Yibir started to wind up heading into the final of three turns and–as his stablemates had finished whereas sitting nearer to the pace-employed a sustained rally to put on down his rivals.
The Breeders’ Cup was a jewel within the crown of a outstanding season for Dubawi, throughout which he has had stakes winners in seven international locations. His tally of 37 stakes winners in 2021 is bigger than another sire standing in Europe or America, with Into Mischief-the solely sire bettering him by prizemoney-next at 26 and Frankel third on 24. Dubawi additionally leads all European and American sires in 2021 by group winners (23) and is tied with Frankel on six Group 1 winners.
As is typical for Dubawi, his six Group 1 winners this 12 months have been versatile distance-wise, starting from six furlongs as much as a mile and a half. Insurgent’s Romance (Ire) was an eye catching winner of the G2 UAE Derby on the grime, and he’s considered one of 23 stakes winners for his sire on that floor. The likes of Prince Bishop (Ire), Monterosso (GB), North America (GB), Fortunate 9 (Ire), Mubtaahij (Ire) and Hunter’s Gentle (Ire) are additional proof that Dubawis act on the grime, and it might be fascinating to see if Dubawi may prolong his Breeders’ Cup dominance down the street with just a few runners pitched onto the grime.
As for Appleby, his accomplishments this weekend likewise deserve examination in a historic context. Richard Mandella set the mark for a coach when successful 4 races on the single-day Breeders’ Cup card at Santa Anita in 2003, and 17 years later Brad Cox equaled that tally at Keeneland final 12 months. Chad Brown has twice despatched out three Breeders’ Cup winners in a gathering, in 2014 and 2019, and Todd Pletcher completed the feat in 2010. Additionally it is price noting that, with the extremely unlikely double gate scratch of Appleby’s Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Grasp Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Walton Road (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) within the Turf was Appleby’s solely Breeders’ Cup starter that didn’t win. The last-out GI Canadian Worldwide winner completed ninth behind Yibir.
So Appleby-in his finest 12 months but as a coach–joins elite firm. It’s honest to level out, too, that no different coach has supplied three Breeders’ Cup winners in a weekend all by the identical sire, although two of Pletcher’s three in 2010 have been by that Breeders’ Cup sire extraordinaire More Than Ready, who he additionally skilled. Extra Than Prepared can be considered one of 4 of the 13 sires with a number of Breeders’ Cup winners in a 12 months to have them on each grime and turf-the others are Medaglia d’Oro, Good Strike and Metropolis Zip.
Dubawi will flip 20 within the New Yr, and can stand his seventeenth season with Darley, all however a kind of being at Dalham Corridor. The stallion that started off at £25,000-and dipped to £15,000 earlier than his first runners hit the track-has continued to put in writing his extraordinary story by way of every passing season, and there may be each cause to assume there may be lots nonetheless to return.
