Champion Daylami (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}–Daltawa {Ire}, by Miswaki), a winner of seven Group 1 races worldwide, has been euthanised due to the infirmities of old age, the Aga Khan Studs announced on Wednesday. He was two weeks shy of his official 29th birthday on Apr. 20.
Racing for first his breeder, His Highness The Aga Khan, and later on in the blue silks of Godolphin, the 1994 foal was second in the 1996 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two and grabbed a Classic laurel in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. A trio of top-level placings followed that year, at Ascot in the St James's Palace S., and then back in France in the Prix Jacques le Marois and Prix du Moulin.
In 1998, Daylami's 4-year-old season, he exchanged the Aga Khan's green and red silks for the royal blue of Godolphin and left Alain de Royer-Dupre's yard for Saeed bin Suroor's. Both the G1 Eclipse S. and the GI Man o' War S. in England and the U.S. went his way, and it was at five in 1999 that he enjoyed his greatest season on the racecourse. His first victory of the year was in the Coronation Cup, and three more Group/Grade 1 triumphs followed in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., the Champion S. at Leopardstown, and in his career swansong, the Breeders' Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park that November. For his efforts, he was named the Cartier Horse of the Year, as well as the Eclipse Champion Grass Horse.
At stud, he sired Classic winner Grey Swallow (Ire) and multiple Group 1 winner Voila Ici (Ire) among his 14 stakes winners. His daughters have foaled 46 stakes winners, including top-level winners Arcano (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and Pierro (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}).
A half-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero and sire Dalakhani (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Daylami has lived as a pensioner at the Aga Khan Studs at his birthplace in Ireland for the past four years under the care of Joe Doyle. A memorial will commemorate the classy grey at Gilltown Stud in due course.
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