Demarchelier first son of Dubawi in Kentucky
Graded stakes winner Demarchelier will become the first son of Dubawi, one of the leading sires in the world, to stand in Kentucky when he enters stud at historic Claiborne Farm.
British-born Demarchelier was a $592,486 buy by Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm at the 2017 Tattersalls October yearling sale. He went on to win three of his four career starts for Brant and trainer Chad Brown, highlighted by a victory in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes in June at Belmont. However, he sustained a career-ending injury in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby a month later.
“He took a bad step in the Belmont Derby that cut his career short, but that’s not going to stop him from passing this incredible bloodline along in the breeding shed,” said Claiborne’s Bernie Sams.
Dubawi was a classic winner in Ireland and also a Group 1 winner in France before entering stud at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, England. The stallion was the sire of 188 stakes winners and seven champions through Nov. 5, with Grade/Group 1 performers around the globe.
He is best known in the United States for siring $5.7 million earner Mubtaahij, who won the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes in 2017 and finished second in both the Santa Anita Handicap and Woodward Stakes, both Grade 1 events. Mubtaahij also finished on the board in two editions of the Dubai World Cup. Dubawi has sired a pair of winners in that rich event in Monterosso and Prince Bishop.
Dubawi’s other top runners to make the trip to North America have included Wuheida, winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf; Dubawi Heights, winner of a pair of Grade 1 races in 2011 in California in the Gamely and Yellow Ribbon; Almanaar, winner of the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in 2017; and Old Persian and Sheikhzayedroad, both Grade 1 winners at Woodbine.
Dubawi is from the only crop sired by 2000 Dubai World Cup winner Dubai Millennium. That late champion, in turn, was by former Claiborne Farm sire Seeking the Gold.
“I think a lot of people will be intrigued by his pedigree, but I really can’t wait for people to see him,” Brant said. “He’s a very special horse. A real specimen. He could get a great grass horse, certainly, but he also has the influences of great American sires such as Seeking the Gold and Mr. Prospector that could also result in some great dirt horses.”