THIS has been a red-letter year for Dubawi, and last weekend was one of his best since he entered stud 12 years ago. In a couple of hours on Sunday he sired a pair of Group 1 winners, bringing his tally at that level to 37, and a Group 2 winner, in addition to a few other horses placed in group races.

His 36th Group 1 winner was clocked up when the Godolphin-owned filly Kitesurf won the Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp, trained by Andre Fabre. The four-year-old raced in last place for much of the mile and a half contest, but once she entered the home straight she began to make headway and scorched down the final furlong to get up close to the line and win by a head.