Fourth Superlative For Dubawi, Sixth For Appleby As Saba Desert Strikes, National Stakes Next

[Wandering Eyes]

Picked by William Buick from the two Godolphin hopes for Saturday's G2 Superlative Stakes, Saba Desert (Dubawi) justified that call to continue connections' run of success at Newmarket's July Festival. Swooping late to deny the 4-6 favourite Italy (Wootton Bassett), the grandson of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Gossamer defied a market drift to 6-1 to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths and deliver a fourth renewal to his sire who won this himself in 2004.

“We went to Sandown with a lot of confidence and William said he had felt like sitting there and winning on the bridle that day which is rare for him,” Charlie Appleby said after greeting his sixth winner of this staging post. “He's a horse we've held in high regard for a while and is the typical stamp of a Dubawi–deep-girthed and short-backed–and as it's a road we often take he could go to The Curragh for the National and then on to the Dewhurst.”

Opening his account at Sandown in the maiden won by the stable's Native Trail in 2021, the chestnut leapt in the air at the break and missed the kick which served as a blessing as the filly Venetian Lace (Masar) streaked up the stand's rail. Italy, who had been too free throughout the early stages, and the winner's stablemate Wild Desert (Too Darn Hot) were compromised as she drifted left running downhill and the way was clear for Saba Desert to overhaul them all in the closing stages.

Saba Desert (Dubawi) remains unbeaten to claim Group Two success in the Superlative Stakes

Another win in the race for @WilliamBuickX, Charlie Appleby and @godolphin @NewmarketRace | @bet365 pic.twitter.com/JbR7ezttSe

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 12, 2025

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