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Fairway Thoroughbreds-bred filly hands Dubawi his 225th stakes winner
In Italian (4 m ex Florentina by Redoute's Choice) won her first victory at stakes level in Saturday's Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes (8f) at Gulfstream Park, becoming the first stakes winner for her Australian-bred dam Florentina (Redoute's Choice). In Italian also became the 225th stakes winner for Darley's Dubawi (Dubai Millennium).
The Chad Brown-trained In Italian broke well and went straight to the lead under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Allowed to set comfortable fractions throughout she was never headed and pulled clear in the closing stages to win by a length and a quarter from Irish-bred Wakanaka (Power).
Winner of the 2012 Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m), In Italian is one of four winners out of Florentina who has also produced the stakes placed duo Villa Carlotta (Street Cry) and Fasano (Lonhro).
In Italian was bred in Europe by Fairway Thoroughbreds and bought by Mike Ryan as agent for Peter Brant's White Birch at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale - Book 1. Florentina's Kingman (Invincible Spirit) colt was bought for $1.8 million by Tom Magnier at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and her Kingman filly is catalogued as Lot 175 for next month's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Florentina was bought for $650,000 at the 2020 Inglis Chairman's Sale by G T Park Spelling Farm and after missing last that year she covered by Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) last December.
Dubawi has now sired 148 individual Group winners, fourth all-time and unmatched by any active stallion. Seven have won so far in 2022 including Lazuli, Naval Crown, Creative Flair, Royal Fleet, Desert Wisdom and Eastern World.