Australian bred three year-olds Dhabyaan and Alshibaa scored strong wins at Vaal in South Africa on Saturday, the first sold by Yarraman at Inglis Easter and the second foaled and raised on the farm for Shadwell.
Dhabyaan was installed a very short priced odds-on favourite for his debut at Vaal and the Mike De Kock trained three-year-old never gave any real cause for concern in winning by over two lengths.
By Medaglia D’Oro (USA) from Kiss The Sun, Dhabyaan was offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, being knocked down to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, in whose colours he races, for $875,000.
Kiss The Sun is a half-sister by Anabaa (USA) to Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Undoubtedly and another former smart Group II winning juvenile in Regal Kiss.
Also trained by Mike de Kock, Street Cry (IRE) colt Alshibaa won his debut at Turffontein in October and remains unbeaten after saluting again over 1600 metres bvy a length and three-quarters as favourite.
He is the second foal and second winner for Asheerah, a winning Redoute’s Choice daughter of Group I winner Rewaaya, a half-sister to the dam of Group I BRC Doomben Cup winner Sense of Occasion.
