Dubday Stays Unbeaten in Qatar
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Dubday is still undefeated in Qatar after taking the $550,000 H.H. the Emir's International Trophy Feb. 27 at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha.
The race, considered a group I in Qatar, was the grand finale of three days of racing at the glittering 23rd International Equestrian Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
Frankie Dettori brought the 4-year-old son of Dubawi from mid-division for a three-quarter-length triumph, with Peter Anders second and Polperro third in the 15-horse field.
Dubday kept his Qatari record untarnished in three starts in completing the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) test in 2:28.34. He captured the Qatar Derby at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) Dec. 26 in his first start in Doha, and defeated more experienced horses, including runner-up Very Nice Name, in the Qatar Gold Trophy over 2,200 meters (about 1 38 miles) Feb. 6.
Very Nice Name, third behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) last March at Meydan and second to Japanese star Orfevre in the Prix Foy (Fr-I) last fall at Longchamp, finished last in the International Trophy.
Owner Shiekh Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari paid $271,140 through Chantilly Bloodstock agency, agent, to acquire Dubday at Arqana's Arc sale of horses of racing age last fall. The former German group III runner-up has flourished in Qatar for leading trainer Jassim Ghazali.
Cleaned Bowled finished fourth, followed by Mainsail, Willie The Whipper, Testudo, Dubawi King, Loi, Quel Advantage, Elkhart, Zarkiyr, Arrigo, Heirloom, and Very Nice Name.
Dubday, bred in Great Britain by Southcourt Stud, has a 4-1-1 record from eight career starts that include a runner-up finish in a German group III race last year. His dam is the winning Daylami mare Dayrose, a half sister to the dam of multiple group I winner and sire Notnowcato.
Al Kuwari and Ghazali also enjoyed victory the Qatari group III race at the opening program Feb. 25 when Sandbetweenourtoes captured the Qatar 2022 Invitation Cup.
The 5-year-old Footstepsinthesand gelding scored by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths from Bazaruto while finishing 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) under Stephan Ladjad in 1:09.50.
The victory, his first in a stakes, pushed his record to 9-2-3 from 28 career starts. Bred by Barouche Stud Ireland, he is out of the Inchinor mare Callanish.
Saeed Mubarak Saeed Aljafali Al Naimi's Mojave Desert won the $275,000 Qatar International Cup, the feature race the previous day, scoring by a neck from Miblish.
With former Qatar champion jockey Darren Williams riding for trainer Majid Safedeen, the daughter of Shamardal was timed in 1:35.16 for 1,600 meters (about one mile) on turf in the event, which is considered a group II race. She tallied a third consecutive victory for a 4-1-1 record in Qatar.
The filly arrived in Qatar in 2013 as a lightly regarded maiden, having placed only once in four starts as a 3-year-old for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed al Maktoum. She subsequently was offered at the Tattersalls July sale in which she was sold to her current owner for $17,710.
Mojave Desert's dam is the winning Stravinsky mare Innclassic, a half sister to two-time United States grade I winner Daytona from the family of French and Irish classic winner L'Attrayante and French classic winner Madeleine's Dream.