Coolmore Mares Sent to Godolphin's Dubawi in 2018

The restoration of good relations between the breeding superpowers of Godolphin and Coolmore is confirmed again in stallion coverings for 2018 lodged with Weatherbys that show Darley's flagship sire Dubawi was visited by a number of Coolmore's very best mares.

According to details available to view on the administrators' Bloodstock Reports online facility, Coolmore supported Dubawi as part of its pursuit of worthy outcrosses for its numerous high-class and/or well-bred mares who are by, or related to, Galileo, Montjeu, and that outstanding pair's sire Sadler's Wells.

Dubawi would seem a natural fit for those matings as his talented sons Night of Thunder and Dartmouth boast Galileo as their damsire, while his group 1-winning daughter Journey is out of a Montjeu mare.

However, the prospect of Coolmore using the son of Dubai Millennium at source had previously appeared unlikely due to the stance of Sheikh Mohammed's operation over the past decade, which saw them decline to purchase young stock by Coolmore sires or send mares to them.

That changed last year when Godolphin, represented by a new buying team after the departure of chief executive John Ferguson, ended the embargo by signing for big-priced progeny of Galileo and other Coolmore sires at the yearling sales.

The change in policy has already reaped rewards, with Beyond Reason—a daughter of Galileo's son and studmate Australia bought for 370,000gns (US$525,812)—carrying the Godolphin blue silks to victory in the Prix Six Perfections (G3) at Deauville July 28.

Coolmore have sent some of its elite mares to visit Dubawi at Dalham Hall Stud, headed by Galileo's multiple group 1-winning daughters Alice Springs and Seventh Heaven for their first covers.

The group also included Galileo's Investec Epsom Oaks (G1)-winning daughter Was, who has three previous offspring by War Front , and the sire's listed-winning daughter Kissed, a half sister to Pour Moi who has produced listed-placed Leo Minor to War Front and has an American Pharoah  colt foal.

Daughters of Montjeu believed to be owned by Coolmore partners in Dubawi's book this year include the Darley Irish Oaks (G1) winners Bracelet, who has a filly foal by Uncle Mo , and Chicquita, whose War Front 2-year-old filly Secret Thoughts is group 3-placed and who has a filly foal by American Pharoah .

Among the other mares from the Irish powerhouse covered by Dubawi in 2018 are Pavlenko, a listed-placed daughter of Deep Impact and Galileo's group 1-winning daughter Maybe and thus a sister to Saxon Warrior; and Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders, who is by Kingmambo and whose need for an outcross from Galileo stems from the fact she is out of All Too Beautiful, a Sadler's Wells sister to the perennial champion sire.

Pairing Dubawi with Galileo mares appears to have been a generally popular decision among breeders this year, with 26 such matings appearing in his book.

Godolphin's Joe Osborne confirmed last year that Sheikh Mohammed would be sending some mares to Galileo for the first time in 2018, but a picture of that side is not available with Galileo's 2018 coverings not yet registered with Weatherbys.