Military Law strikes for Dubawi on significant day for super-sire

Dubawi notched his first Group winner of 2021 at the Meydan meeting where he has a race named after him as Military Law signalled what could be only the beginning of a profitable campaign in the Gulf with a striking performance in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

A lightly-raced individual from the leading sire produced by Qatar Racing, he went through the grades for John Gosden before being bought by his present owner, Nasir Askar, for 110,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2019.

A winner of the Listed Entisaar for trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri, he ran twice more at last year's Carnival, notably finishing second to the top-notch Benbatl in round two of the Maktoum Challenge.

On a first run for almost 11 months, the six-year-old was dropping back to a mile in a competitive event but was very much on his game. Military Law became Dubawi's 128th worldwide Group winner and Antonio Fresu, his jockey and regular work rider, said it opened up options.

"I think last year he was running well but he wasn't the same as this year, he's looking stronger and feeling better," he told Dubai Racing TV.

"We kept him for this race and he was becoming ready in the last few gallops, even if it was a bit too short. We need to see the plan, now there are different options. There is the plan to keep him in Dubai or go to Saudi, we'll see how he comes out of the race and then we'll decide."

Three other stallions notched their first Group winners of the year on the card with Speightstown's Switzerland making a flying start for Satish Seemar in the Dubawi Stakes itself.

Old favourite Lord Glitters, already Whipper's biggest money-spinner, added more to the pile in the Singspiel Stakes, while Land Of Legends became a 36th Group winner for Dubawi's fellow Dalham Hall resident Iffraaj as he pounced for Godolphin in the Al Fahidi Fort.

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