MAKFI, winner of the Group 1 2000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois, and Lucky Nine, a three-time Group 1 winning sprinter, are the two most successful examples of crossing Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) with daughters of Green Desert (Danzig).

One daughter of Green Desert who has had a very fruitful relationship with the Dalham Hall stalwart is Savannah Belle and half of her 10 winners so far are by the best son of the ill-fated Dubai Millennium (Seeking The Gold). Savannah Belle raced for Lady Bamford and was trained by Jeremy Glover to win at two and be placed a few times.

Her most recent group winner is D’Bai (Dubawi) and this four-year-old gelding added the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes to a listed juvenile win at Pontefract. He has also been successful this year in Dubai and been stakes-placed in France.

His performances eclipse those of his full-brother Fort Knox, a listed classic trial winner at Leopardstown, but both are some way off the accomplishments of another full-brother, Dubawi Gold. The highlight of his five-win career was his triumph in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood. This followed his second-place finishes in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, to Frankel and Roderic O’Connor respectively, when trained by Richard Hannon.

D’Bai was bred at the Burns’ Lodge Park Stud and she was acquired, carrying last weekend’s group winner, for 335,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Sale. Since D’Bai she has foaled a now two-year-old filly by New Approach (Galileo) named Biblic, and her yearling own-brother. Biblic sold last year for 210,000gns.

Savannah Belle’s best performing sibling was Rainwatch (Rainbow Quest), but while he was a Grade 1 winner that success was gained in the Finale Junior Hurdle at Chepstow. Their dam Third Watch (Slip Anchor) was a smart racemare and won the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and was placed in the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes. The last race was one of three big race successes for the next dam Triple First (High Top).

In addition to the Sun Chariot Stakes, she annexed the Group 2 Nassau Stakes and Group 3 Musidora Stakes, however that was back in 1977. She was a most successful broodmare and has become an influential ancestress. Her sons and daughters include the classic-placed group winners Three Tails (Blakeney) and Maysoon (Shergar), as well as the dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 Prix Ganay third Richard Of York (Rainbow Quest).

Triple First’s grandsons and granddaughters have among their ranks such as Group 2 winner Sea Wave (Sadler’s Wells), the Derby runner-up Tamure (Sadler’s Wells), the Group 1 winning juvenile and classic placed Lend A Hand (Great Commotion) and the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes winner Talented (Bustino). This is the immediate family of Group 2 winner and Derby-placed Carlton House (Street Cry), and the Group 1 The Irish Field St Leger winner Duncan (Dalakhani).