Aga Khan Studs

Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Ire}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a €650,000 Arqana August half-sister to last term's G3 Prix La Rochette victor and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), made a winning debut when getting up late in Saturday's seven-furlong Prix des Belles Demoiselles at Compiegne. 1st-Compiegne, €30,000, Mdn, 6-22, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.74, sf. LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) recovered from a sluggish exit to track the leaders in...

A share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) will be offered by Arqana Online during a pop-up sale to be held on Wednesday, June 26. Bidding will take place between 5-6pm local time, with registration for bidding already open on www.arqanaonline.com. A four-time winner when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, notably landing the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Zarak boasts an exceptional pedigree as a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the unbeaten G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). He stood his first season at...

Juddmonte's previously unraced Zilfee (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Concentric {GB}, by Sadler's Wells), who is a half-sister to the operation's icon Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), made a winning start to her career with a gutsy effort going one yard shy of 11 furlongs in Tuesday's Unibet/EBF Maiden Fillies' S. at Kempton. 2nd-Kempton, £7,000, Mdn, 6-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 219y (AWT), 2:19.59, st/sl. ZILFEE (GB) (f, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}--Concentric {GB} {SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776}, by Sadler's Wells) recovered from an early stumble to race fourth passing the judge first...

On the 15th anniversary of the passing of Vincent O'Brien, his successor at Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien, extended his record at Epsom to 10 wins in the Derby. Vincent O'Brien's daughter and son-in-law Sue and John Magnier were not at Epsom on Saturday but several of the late, great trainer's grandchildren were in the winner's circle to greet City Of Troy. Their own family is now so strongly enmeshed with the man who shares their grandfather's surname but is no relation to the creator of Ballydoyle. Just like City Of Troy,...

EPSOM, UK--With squally showers and a freezing wind, it wasn't really the day for a 99, unless you're the Aga Khan.  Ezeliya (Fr), the bonny bay filly from a family replete with class and stamina, made the Oaks her own from a long way out, and in so doing broke the Epsom hoodoo of her sire Dubawi (Ire) in becoming the 99th individual Group 1 winner for her stalwart of a breeder. "Days like this are why we all do it," said a beaming Pat Downes, manager of the Aga...

Newmarket's Darley Maiden Fillies' S. played host to the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of subsequent G3 Musidora S. third Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) last term and this year's renewal produced another display of note as William Haggas trainee Sea Just In Time (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--My Timing {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) powered to a 4 3/4-length triumph in the straight 10-furlong test. The G2 Ribblesdale and G1 Irish Oaks entry employed a patient approach from the outset and was within range at the tail of...

Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Innevera {Fr}, by Motivator {GB}) had won one of five overseas starts since annexing last term's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton S. at Newmarket and made a winning European return with back-to-back victories in Wednesday's latest renewal of the nine-furlong test. The gelded 5-year-old backed up last term's success with a win in Belmont's GII Fort Marcy S. before hitting the board in June's GI Manhattan S. back in New York. He then returned off a sabbatical to place in Meydan's G2 Al...

Preceded by a trio of sophomore Listed contests on the card, Saturday's G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud went the way of last year's three-length winner Haya Zark (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}--Haya City {Fr}, by Elusive City), who handled bottomless conditions at the Paris track and cruised to an easy 1 1/2-length victory from 50-1 Polish raider Gryphon (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}). The 53-10 chance also bagged 2023's G3 Prix d'Hedouville and was dropped down to this 10-furlong trip for the first time since last term's heroics at this venue coming back off...

The two newcomers to the stallions ranks at Haras de Bonneval, Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr), have both had their first mares scanned in foal, the operation announced on Wednesday. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and carrying the colours of the Aga Khan, Vadeni was among the leading three-year-olds in Europe in 2022 when his wins included the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown. He also filled the runner-up spot behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on...

Not even a blanket of snow and some icy country lanes could deter those on the annual Normandy bloodstock pilgrimage more formally known as the Route des Etalons. With plenty of new sires to show off this year, many of France's major stallion studs welcomed in breeders and members of the public during the weekend showcase which is now in its 14th year. At Haras de Bonneval, the French home of the Aga Khan Studs stallions, more than 600 people turned out on Saturday to see the quartet of stallions...

It is hard to remember a time when France had a stronger intake of new stallions than the group which comprises the class of 2024. At Haras de Bonneval, the domain of the Aga Khan Studs' French line-up, the deluxe stallion unit contains two of the most sought-after sires in the country. They have recently been joined by another duo who will be aimed at emulating the feats of their elders. For the new recruits Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr) it will be no easy task to follow in the...

Sea The Stars (Ire) and Siyouni (Fr), the flagship stallions of the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland and France respectively, have each had their fees increased to €200,000 for 2024. Representing a career high for both stallions, Sea The Stars stood at €180,000 in 2023 and covered 180 mares, while Siyouni covered 135 at €150,000. The Aga Khan Studs will have two new stallions next season, with last year's Cartier champion 3-year-old, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Eclipse S. winner Vadeni (Fr), joining the roster at Haras...