If you thought Dubawi (IRE) could not top siring the winner of the Listed Golden Mile at Bendigo on Saturday, you would be wrong, it proved a mere appetiser for a notable double on World Cup night in Dubai.
The 3yo gelding Rebel's Romance romped to a five and a half length triumph in the UAE Derby, to become the 199th stakes-winner for Dubawi, while ensurring a spot in the Kentucky Derby if Godolphin choose that route.
The Charlie Appleby-trained gelding advanced his record four wins from five starts.
Rebel's Romance won his only two starts at two on the all-weather tracks at Lingfield and Newcastle.
The Godolphin homebred is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the stakes-placed Street Cry (IRE) mare Minidress.
The second winner for Dubawi (IRE) at Meydan came when the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Lord North was a dominant three lengths winner under Frankie Dettori of the $4 million Dubai Turf.
Making his first start since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Turf last November at Keeneland, the 5yo gelding advanced his record to seven wins a second and two thirds from 13 starts.
Lord North is the best of two winners from three to race out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Najoum.
A half-sister to Grade 1 Keeneland Blue Grass Stakes winner Bandini, Najoum hails from the revered Rough Shod family.
Exceed And Excel was among the action on the night when his 8yo son Secret Ambition ran his rivals into the ground in the Group II Godolphin Mile.
It was a career highlight for the grand money-spinner who began his career back in April 2015 under the care of Mark Johnston.
He won just one of his 10 starts for Johnston, a maiden at Brighton, before his export to Dubai where he has thrived with a record of 11 wins and 13 placings from 42 starts with earnings the equivalent of AU$1.6million.
Out of the placed Singspiel mare Inner Secret, Secret Ambition has a pedigree that is very recognisable in Australia.
The son of Exceed And Excel is a half-brother to Group 1 Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine (Raven’s Pass) and the Listed winner Crystal River (Dubawi), while his dam is a half-sister to former shuttlers Dubai Destination (Kingmambo) and Librettist (Danzig).
Won in the last two years by helmet's globetrotting son Thunder Snow, the main race of the night, the US$12 million Dubai World Cup, was won by the Godolphin homebred Mystic Guide who became the twelfth U.S. trained horse to win the race in its 25-year history.
Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Mike Stidham, the 4yo son of Ghostzapper was untroubled to win by three and three-quarter lengths from the Japanese-trained Chuwa Wizard (King Kamehameha).
The winner of four and placed in four of his eight starts, Mystic Guide has banked the equivalent of $9.8million.
The winner of the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, Mystic Guide is the best of four winners from five to race out of the exceptional AP Indy mare Music Note whose seven wins included five at the elite level, Beldame Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, Mother Goose Stakes, Gazelle Stakes, and Ballerina Stakes.
Music Note is a half-sister to Musical Chimes (In Excess), winner of the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and the Grade I John C Mabee Hcp.
They are daughters of the unraced Sadler’s Wells mare Note Musicale (GB), who is out of the five-time Grade I winner It’s In The Air (Mr. Prospector), a $4.6-million investment by Darley at the 1984 Keeneland November Sale.
