Dubawi rebounds in Irish 2000 Guineas

Dubawi bounced back from a disappointing effort in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in England three weeks ago to win the $502,000 Irish 2000 Guineas with a sharp late run at The Curragh on Saturday.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained, Godolphin-owned Dubawi appeared to appreciate the good-to-yielding going at the County Kildare track, rallying from fourth to lead approaching the furlong marker, then quickening clear to defeat Newmarket Guineas fourth-place finisher Oratorio by two lengths. The first two were sent off as 7-4 co-favorites in the eight-horse field.

Dubawi traveled the mile in 1:41.68. Group 3 Craven Stakes winner and Newmarket Guineas sixth-place finisher Democratic Deficit was up for third, six lengths behind Oratorio. Rebel Rebel, the 100-1 Newmarket Guineas runner-up who was supplemented to the Irish 2000 for $50,000, was two lengths farther back in fourth.

Dubawi ran a dull fifth in the English Guineas behind Oratorio's Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Footstepsinthesand, who missed this return match because of a stone bruise. In victory, Dubawi was following in the footsteps of his Godolphin stablemate Shamardal, who had bounced back from a poor effort of his own in the UAE Derby to win the French 2000 Guineas last Sunday.

Godolphin has now chalked up a pair of classic miles wins this season, but Dubawi's success is cause for greater rejoicing in Sheikh Mohammed's camp because it gives the winner's sire, Dubai Millennium, at least one classic winner from his only crop.

A third classic victory for Godolphin could come on June 4 if Godolphin chooses to send Dubawi to Epsom for the 1 1/2-mile Derby, in which he will be as low as the 5-1 co-second choice, along with Corals, behind the 5-2 favorite Motivator.