Dubawi’s Derby Drought: Can Delacroix End the Stallion’s Wait?
The 2023 Epsom Derby has thrown up a fascinating narrative, with Delacroix set to take his chance on Saturday in a bid to end a notable drought for his sire, Dubawi. The Coolmore-owned colt, trained by Aidan O’Brien, will line up at 3:30 pm, looking to right a wrong on his sire’s impressive CV.
According to Racing Post, it is one of bloodstock’s great mysteries that Dubawi, the 2022 British and Irish champion sire, has yet to sire a winner of Epsom’s great race. The stallion recently landed his 300th individual stakes winner, becoming only the third stallion in history to do so.
Dubawi did supply the first two home in last year’s Oaks, however, when the Aga Khan Studs’ Ezeliya led home Godolphin’s Dance Sequence. Perhaps it really is only a matter of time until the Derby falls. There will be a certain irony if Delacroix lands the Derby for Coolmore, traditionally the big rivals to Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin and Darley operations, under whose banner Dubawi stands at Dalham Hall Stud.
Delacroix’s Credentials
Delacroix has been a talented and consistent performer to date for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable, characteristics Dubawi has passed on in abundance during his sterling career at stud. If the colt out of American champion Tepin does become his sire’s 62nd winner at the highest level, it will have been at Dubawi’s tenth attempt in the Epsom Classic.
As Racing Post reports, Dubawi is well-represented in the mile and a half race via his stallion sons in New Bay (Pride Of Arras and New Ground), Ghaiyyath (Stanhope Gardens and Nightime Dancer), Too Darn Hot (Tornado Alert) and Night Of Thunder (Tuscan Hills).
New Bay surely holds as good a chance as any with the unbeaten Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras. Ghaiyyath’s Stanhope Gardens has long been talked up as a Derby prospect after a narrow second to Delacroix in last year’s Autumn Stakes.
Dubawi’s Previous Derby Attempts
Dubawi himself was third in the 2005 Derby, taking a quite a hold under Frankie Dettori which would not have helped preserve any petrol, and was eventually eight lengths behind Motivator and Walk In The Park. As a stallion, Dubawi is the broodmare sire of 2021 hero Adayar but has never had a son finish better than fifth.
The best of his Derby runners to date was Benbatl, a subsequent top-class globetrotter for Godolphin, albeit over trips shorter than the mile and a half at Epsom.
Assessing Delacroix’s Chances
So, what to make of Delacroix? It is difficult to know when assessing his pedigree as Tepin’s family has form at around a mile. However, there is some recent evidence to suggest the trip should suit as he is a half-brother of Grateful, the filly by Galileo who struck in last year’s Prix de Royallieu over 1m6f.
He looks a tractable sort who settles well to his task and he has the invaluable assistance of Ryan Moore in the saddle. Breeding a Derby winner is so much down to luck, with the select individuals needing to have a combination of qualities including class, a solid mentality and durability.
Conclusion
While nothing can be taken for granted, one has to feel Delacroix has that potential and holds as good a chance as there has been to date for his all-conquering sire to break that duck. With his impressive credentials and a talented team behind him, Delacroix has a genuine chance of ending Dubawi’s Derby drought.
This article is based on information from Racing Post.
