DARLEY shuttler Dubawi continued his relentless march towards the European first-season sires’ premiership for winners when Makfi won on debut at Fontainebleau on Friday.

Makfi scored by 1.5 lengths in the Prix Du Loing (1400m) to advance Dubawi’s individual winner tally to 33 this year.

Makfi (2c Dubawi – Dhelaal by Green Desert) was bred by Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estates and the win gave trainer Mikel Delzangles and connections a very quick return on their investment.  The winner was a 26,000 gns (AUD 48,660) buy at the Tattersalls HIT Sale in Newmarket on October 28.

He is the first foal of Dhelaal, an unraced half-sister to Alhaarth (Unfuwain) who was named Europe’s Champion 2yo in 1995.  The Godolphin colt climaxed an unbeaten juvenile campaign that year by trouncing Coolmore colt Danehill Dancer in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes.

Now based at Derrinstown Stud in County Kildare, Alhaarth is the sire of Group 1 winners Phoenix Reach (HK Vase, Canadian International & Dubai Sheema Classic) and Haafhd (2004 English 2000 Guineas).

Alhaarth is expected to play a hand in the 2010 English 2000 Guineas with Sheikh Hamdan’s exciting homebred Awzaan.  The unbeaten colt was quoted at 14-1 for the classic after winning the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last month.

Dubawi (Dubai Millenium) is sure to have several candidates for the 2000 Guineas among his growing list of first-crop winners.  He was a G1 winner of the National Stakes at the Curragh at two and returned as a three year-old to add G1 victories in the Irish 2000 Guineas and Prix Jacques le Marois.

He sired 80 foals from his first Australian crop and www.sportingbet.com.au has priced him at $11 to replicate his European record for individual winners down here in 2009-10.

Cellarmaster (2c Dubawi – Oenology by Sound Reason) got him off the mark in the southern hemisphere in New Zealand on November 12.  He followed up with a game second to Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park) at Otaki on Friday after setting a scorcher in front.

His first two Australian starters – Miss Dubawi and Wilful Default – were barrier trial winners at Belmont and Kembla Grange respectively before raceday.
Darley stands Dubawi for 20,000 pounds (AUD 35,650) at Dalham Hall and for $16,500 at Kelvinside in Australia.

DUBAWI has sired 34 winners in Europe this year, however, that total was deducted when Curtains failed a drug test for dexamethasone after winning an EBF Maiden at Brighton on June 7.

Curtains (2f Dubawi – Voile by Barathea) was disqualified after a lengthy enquiry on October 15.  A panel of BHA stewards were satisfied trainer Simon Dow followed his vet’s advice that medication administered between May 15 and 20 would require a withdrawal period of 8 days.

The filly was first past the post 18 days after treatment was discontinued!