DILAWAR already has quite a background story. The four-year-old gelded son of Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) was found at two to be a double rig, hence the ending of his stallion prospects.

In training at three he had an accident exiting the stalls at home, injuring his hock and necessitating a break. However, as the first foal of a Group 1 winner, Dolniya, it was desirable that he should be given every opportunity to race and win, if possible. His owner-breeder, HH Aga Khan, must be more than pleased now with that decision to keep him.

In the hands of Alain de Royer-Dupré, who also trained Dolniya, Dilawar has been something of a revelation. Brought along steadily, he has won four of his five starts this year, and at the weekend he tackled group-company for the first time, emerging victorious in the Group 3 Prix Quincey at Deauville. Hopes are that he has not yet reached the heights he can, and he holds some tasty future engagements.

The success already enjoyed by Dilawar is significant, and the gelding could be set for a career as a jetsetter, should his rate of improvement continue. His dam was a very smart racemare in France, winning the Group 2 Prix de Malleret and running third in a pair of Group 1 races, the Prix Vermeille and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

No inbreeding

She twice travelled outside France to race, beating Flintshire to win the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, and then, on her next start, beaten a neck in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. She won five of her 12 starts, finishing out of the first four just twice. As she possesses no inbreeding for at least five generations, Dolniya is a most attractive mare to mate.

The success being enjoyed by Dilawar is not the only good news for Dolniya in 2021. Her second foal is Dolia (Invincible Spirit), and she is a stablemate of her older sibling. Winner on her debut this year at three, she was runner-up next time out in the Listed Prix Volterra at ParisLongchamp. She is a filly who could well stay in training.

The pair are now joined at the Royer-Dupré yard in Chantilly by their two-year-old sibling, the colt Dolayni (Siyouni), while Dolniya’s yearling is a Kingman (Invincible Spirit) filly. Pat Downes reports that the mare is now carrying to the great Frankel (Galileo). This is what could be turning quickly into a bright future!

Good news

The 2021 good news doesn’t stop there. Dolniya’s placed half-sister Daldiyna (Dansili) was sold five years ago for €150,000 as a filly out of training to Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm. She was sent to be covered by the great Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and her first foal is Interpretation. That three-year-old, racing for Brant, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, is unbeaten in three starts this year, most recently winning the Listed Vinnie Rose Stakes at Leopardstown. He has an entry in the St Leger at Doncaster.

Dolniya is one of four winners and two placed horses from the first six foals out of Daltama (Indian Ridge), a placed half-sister to two champions in Daylami (Doyoun) and Dalakhani (Darshaan). Another of their siblings bred a Group 1 winner, Daltaiyma (Doyoun) being responsible for the Prix de l’Opera winner Dalkala (Giant’s Causeway).

“This has been a wonderful family for the Aga Khan,” said Downes. “It’s been great to see Dilawar progress and hopefully he is good enough to compete on Arc weekend. His dam was quite special and now she has made the perfect start at stud.”

At the time of writing, the brilliant Dubawi has sired 44 Group 1 winners, a further 36 Group 2 winners, while Dilawar became his 56th son or daughter to have earned their biggest win at Group 3 level.

Chances are that Dilawar could well join the groups at the higher level.