Ghaiyyath Romps in Stunning Grosser Preis von Baden Win

Ghaiyyath was labeled an "absolute monster" by his astonished rider, William Buick, Sept. 1 after producing a sensational display of raw, galloping power to slay his rivals in the 147th Longines Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) by a staggering 14 lengths.

The performance left observers slack-jawed and prompted his price for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), where he could yet prove to be a thorn in the side of Enable in her bid for an unprecedented third victory, to collapse to 16-1 (from 33).

The Godolphin 4-year-old's victory in Germany's most prestigious race was the jewel in a memorable European afternoon for trainer Charlie Appleby, who also sent out Moonlight Spirit to claim the Prix de Lutece (G3) at ParisLongchamp and Vintager to collect the 86th Oettingen-Rennen (G2) at Baden-Baden.

But it was the performance of their stablemate Ghaiyyath, who provided Buick with a first group 1 since March after a season restricted by injury, that shone out.

Running for the first time since finishing third in the Prix Ganay (G1) in April, Ghaiyyath quickly settled into a rhythm on the lead. Turning for home, the opposition began to look completely overwhelmed as Buick poured it on in front. Try as they may, they could never get close to landing a blow on the dominant winner.

Buick said: "He's a monster, an absolute monster. Let's hope that he'll be around for a while. He's an amazing horse.

"For one reason or another, he disappointed in the Prix Ganay, but Charlie has always been adamant that Ghaiyyath will stay a mile and a half, and he showed that today."

Appleby was similarly blown away by the performance. He believes the patience shown by those closest to the lightly raced Ghaiyyath will allow him to continue to show his full ability.

"You had to give that a 'wow,' didn't you?" he said. "Wherever you are in the world, to win a group 1 by 14 lengths in the manner he did is incredible. He's a very exciting horse, and there are discussions to be had about having a tilt at the Arc with him now.

"I have to give a lot of thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed as he has always believed in the horse as much as we have and given us the confidence to give him the time between his races. Off the back of today, I think this is the starting point of getting the rewards and paying back that patience."

He added: "We were disappointed last time in the Prix Ganay, but the winner, Waldgeist, has run well in an Arc before, and the second that day, Study of Man, won the French Derby (QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club, G1) the previous season, so you have to take that into account as he may have run a bit flat backing up after such a good run first time out this season, too."

Ghaiyyath and Vintager were partnered by Buick, who was forced to miss much of the summer through injury, and Appleby added: "William and I have had a fantastic career together and have been very lucky to have had the horses we have had over the last couple of years. With what's happened this summer, I'm also very lucky to have James (Doyle) as a wingman, and there is no better man than him."

Ghaiyyath Shows Benefits of Combining Dubawi and Galileo Influences

Dubawi ranks as one of the most dependable sources of high-class performers to have ever stood in Britain, while Galileo might just be the best stallion of the modern era.

Godolphin color-bearer Ghaiyyath demonstrated the magic that can happen when the influences of those two outstanding sires are combined.

The Appleby trainee showed considerable promise at 2 when he won his maiden by five lengths and took the Masar Godolphin Autumn Stakes (G3) by daylight, but he made only one start—albeit a winning one, in a ParisLongchamp group 3—at 3 due to injury.

He looked a potential superstar when successful in the Prix d'Harcourt (G2) in April but was a shade disappointing in the Prix Ganay.

Ghaiyyath certainly erased the memory of that effort on his first start since then at Baden-Baden. He made all the running under Buick and had the rest of the field working hard to keep up with four furlongs still to go, before coasting home in splendid isolation with domestic challengers Donjah (by Teofilo) a distant second and this season's IDEE Deutsches Derby (G1) winner, Laccario (by Scalo), in third.

Ghaiyyath is the 41st group/grade 1 winner for Dubawi. Among the lengthy roll of honor that includes celebrities such as Al Kazeem, Postponed, and Too Darn Hot are several others who have shone in Germany, including Deutsches Derby hero Waldpark and Grosser Dallmayr-Preis-Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (G1) winner Benbatl.   

Dubawi covered at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £250,000 in 2019, his 14th season standing in the Northern Hemisphere.

Ghaiyyath is out of Nightime, who became the first of Galileo's 80 top-level winners when she was saddled by Dermot Weld to a six-length success in the Boylesports Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) of 2006 for his mother Marguerite, who owned and bred the filly.

Nightime, who is out of the listed-winning Indian Ridge mare Caumshinaun, was retained as a broodmare by Mrs. Weld and since her death in 2014 has been bred from by the family's Springbank Way Stud.

She has produced five winners, including another at the highest level in Zhukova, who took the Man o' War Stakes (G1T) by six lengths in 2017 and was subsequently sold as a breeding prospect to Godolphin for 3.7 million guineas (US$5,236,203).

Sheikh Mohammed's operation also had to dig deep to add Ghaiyyath to the fold, paying €1.1 million ($1,180,850) for him at the Goffs November Foal Sale in 2015.

Nightime has a yearling colt by Dubawi—sold to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 700,000gns ($939,918) as a foal at Tattersalls last year—and she delivered another colt foal by the sire in March. She was subsequently covered by Kingman.

Ghaiyyath is not the first example of Dubawi sparking with Galileo mares. QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner and exciting first-season sire Night of Thunder was also bred on the cross, as were group 2 scorer Dartmouth and the smart runners Red Galileo and UAE Jewel.

Dubawi covered more than 25 daughters of Galileo this year, as well as two half sisters to Ghaiyyath in Midnight Fair and Zhukova and two sisters to Nightime in Phaenomena and Tajriba.