Aga Khan Studs

A 1/50th share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) took top billing in the Arqana December Online Sale when going the way of Alex Elliott for €800,000. Of the 13 stallion shares and breeding rights offered, nine sold for a total of €1,323,000. 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). Zarak stood his first...

Sea The Stars (Ire) will stand at his highest-ever fee of €250,000 at Gilltown Stud in 2025 after a season in which his 28 stakes winners included the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Sosie (Ire) and promising juvenile The Lion In Winter (Ire), who is currently favourite for next year's 2,000 Guineas. His fellow Aga Khan Studs stallion Siyouni (Fr) headlines the roster at Haras de Bonneval in Normandy where his stud fee for next year will remain unchanged at €200,000.  Zarak (Fr), currently the second-leading sire in Europe...

In a new partnership between the Aga Khan Studs and France Galop, it was announced on Thursday that the racing and breeding operation of His Highness the Aga Khan has committed to an across-the-card sponsorship of Prix Jacques le Marois day at Deauville from 2025. For nearly 40 years the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, which boasts prize-money of €1 million, was sponsored by the Niarchos family whose long association with the race included nine victories in their familiar silks. The legendary Miesque was the first when winning back-to-back editions...

Godolphin contributed to a succession of fireworks at Newmarket's Park Paddocks sales venue during the earlier part of the week and, with action firmly centred on the nearby Rowley Mile racetrack, continued in similar vein as the operation's 2-year-old filly Verse Of Love (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Vercelli {GB}, by Shamardal) powered to a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Friday's Godolphin Under Starters Orders Maiden Fillies' Stakes. She becomes the 14th Rising Star for her sire, whose roll of honour includes this month's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Zarigana (Ire). The March-foaled...

Mickael Barzalona has been appointed first jockey for the French-trained horses of the Aga Khan Studs from January 2025. A Classic-winning jockey in France and Britain, Barzalona shot to wider prominence for his flamboyant celebrations when winning the 2011 Derby for Andre Fabre and Coolmore aboard Pour Moi (Ire) at the age of just 19. A former retained jockey for Godolphin, he won France's Cravache d'Or (jockeys' championship) in 2021 and is currently in second place in the table for this season behind Maxime Guyon.  During 2024, Barzalona's significant victories...

Andre Fabre trainee Nitoi (Siyouni {Fr}--Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer), a half-brother to G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern and G1 Hong Kong Vase hero Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}), justified 8-5 favouritism with a 2 1/2-length victory in Monday's Prix de la Maniguette over nine furlongs at Chantilly. 2nd-Chantilly, €30,000, Mdn, 9-17, 2yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:54.26, sf. NITOI (c, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Lady Zuzu {MGSP-US, $112,615}, by Dynaformer) was well away and asserted for an early lead in this debut. Holding sway throughout, the 8-5 favourite was nudged along when threatened by Bellagio...

The Aga Khan's Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a stunning performance over seven furlongs at Chantilly in July and duly delivered a first black-type triumph with a display reminiscent of the owner's star distaffer in Thursday's G3 Prix d'Aumale at ParisLongchamp. The 4-5 favourite broke swiftly and was steadied off the tempo in sixth through halfway in this one-mile test. Angled to the outside passing the quarter-mile marker, she cruised to the fore approaching the...

Jeff Smith's G1 Nassau Stakes runner-up See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Arabian Queen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) had been winless in six starts since annexing her debut at Newmarket last year and rectified matters with a decisive success in Saturday's G3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York. The 3-1 favourite was settled in rear, with just one behind, for most of this extended one-mile test. Coming under pressure to close approaching the quarter-mile marker, she threaded her way into contention passing the furlong pole and kept on strongly...

Aidan O'Brien trainee The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--What A Home {Ire}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}), a €375,000 Goffs Orby yearling, attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive debut display tackling seven furlongs at the Curragh last month and stepped forward to deliver a track-record performance over the same trip in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York. The 2-1 second favourite was swiftly into stride and raced on the front end from flagfall in this one-turn test. Nudged along when threatened passing the quarter-mile...

Undefeated in three prior starts this term, Baron Edouard de Rothschild's star distaffer Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Penne {Fr}, by Sevres Rose {Ire}) registered back-to-back wins in last month's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and repeated the dose with a battling performance to defend her title in Sunday's G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet back at the Normandy venue. The prohibitively priced 1-5 favourite was unhurried at the break and settled at the tail of the five-runner field until well beyond halfway in this 10-furlong contest. Cruising forward once into...

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Prix de Diane fourth Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Balladeuse {Fr}, by Singspiel {Ire}), who had dazzled with a seven-length triumph in June's G3 Prix de Royaumont, bounce back in style and surged from last to first for a second pattern-race success in Saturday's G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville. The 3-5 favourite, the lone sophomore in a seven-strong field, was tucked in behind all six rivals upon leaving the stalls and employed patient tactics racing off a sedate tempo for...

Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-placed Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), followed up a narrow debut victory at Compiegne in June with a 1 3/4-length success in Tuesday's Prix du Mezeray at Deauville. 2nd-Deauville, €34,000, Cond, 8-13, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:40.49, gd. LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who posted a narrow victory going seven furlongs at Compiegne in her June 22 debut last time,...