Aga Khan Studs

Francis-Henri Graffard may have had to contend with the disappointment of retiring his Classic-winning filly Rouhiya (Fr), but he still has much to look forward to in the coming weeks, not least another trip to Ascot with Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) for Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Owned by his breeder Baron Philip von Ullmann of Gestut Schlenderhan, the four-year-old was last seen running second to Isle Of Jura (Ire) in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Following his win in the G3 Prix d'Hedouville in early May,...

Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, has been retired with a setback that would have ruled her out for the remainder of her three-year-old campaign.   Her owner-breeder the Aga Khan has been represented by two Classic winners this season but both have now been retired. Earlier this month, it was announced that the Oaks winner Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) had also been retired to the paddocks.  Speaking after the filly's Classic success at Longchamp for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, Princess Zahra Aga...

Al Asayl's homebred Map Of Stars (GB) Sea The Stars {Ire}--Bateel {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) notched a one-length tally going nine furlongs at ParisLongchamp last October, his only prior start, and stepped forward to justify 11-10 favouritism with a career high on seasonal return in Monday's Listed Prix Pelleas at Compiegne. The eventual winner was positioned in a handy third until inching into second at halfway. Coming under pressure with 500 metres remaining, he was ridden to the fore entering the final furlong and ran on strongly in the latter...

TDN Rising Star Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) suffered his lone career defeat when fourth in the 2008 renewal of the Curragh's Juddmonte Chaldean Irish EBF Maiden and his son The Lion In Winter (Ire), a €375,000 Goffs Orby yearling, restored family honour in the seven-furlong contest by delivering a stunning closing burst to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette of his own in this year's edition. The 11-2 chance tracked the leaders from off the pace, racing eighth, through the early stages of this debut. Cajoled closer...

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced 2-year-old-filly Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, produced a stunning performance in Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche over seven furlongs at Chantilly and emulated her illustrious second dam by securing 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The well-backed 11-10 favourite settled into a smooth rhythm and tracked the leaders in fifth after the opening exchanges. Angled off the rail for a clear passage approaching the quarter-mile marker, she settled the contest in an instant...

Another share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) will be offered by Arqana Online during a pop-up sale to be held on Friday, July 12. The share gives the right to one covering per year, plus an additional covering every odd-numbered year, meaning two coverings in 2025 followed by one covering in 2026, and so on. Last month an identical offering on the Arqana Online platform sold to Laurent Benoit, acting on behalf of Haras Voltaire, for €740,000. Bidding will take place between 5-6pm local time, with registration...

Ezeliya (Fr), winner of this year's Oaks for HH Aga Khan and trainer Dermot Weld, has been retired from racing. The news was announced on Saturday morning by the Aga Khan Studs. A post on the operation's social media accounts read, "The Aga Khan Studs regret to announce that 2024 Oaks winner Ezeliya has been retired from racing. The filly suffered a setback in training and will join the broodmare band." In June, Ezeliya, ridden by Chris Hayes, became the first daughter of Dubawi (Ire) to win the Oaks at...

Leading European sire Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}--Sichilla {Ire}, by Danehill) will again be available to cover a limited number of mares to Southern Hemisphere time in 2024 from his base at Haras de Bonneval in France. Siyouni, who has sired eight Classic races from eight to 10 furlongs, finished the 2023 season as the leading sire of milers, headed by Tahiyra (Ire), Paddington (GB) and Mqse De Sevigne (Ire), who collectively won nine Group 1 races. Mqse De Sevigne also annexed the G1 Prix d'Ispahan earlier this year. In Australia,...

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,...