Georges Rimaud

After a quarter century at the helm of the French division of the Aga Khan Studs, Georges Rimaud will step down from that role at the end of December, making this Deauville December Sale his last. Rimaud leaves the stud stronger than ever, with four homebred sons standing at the farm, including the best sire in France, Siyouni (Fr), the best young sire in France in Zarak (Fr), and two promising newcomers, Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr). We surprised Rimaud as he was having lunch in the stud's traditional marquee...

Georges Rimaud, the director of the Aga Khan Studs in France for a quarter-century, will retire at the end of 2024. He will be succeeded by Pierre Gasnier, who has assisted Rimaud for the past two years. Trained at the Irish National Stud in 1980, Rimaud worked at Spendthrift Farm and later managed Hurricane Hall--both in Kentucky--and also managed Virginia's Audley Farm. Named manager of Haras d'Etreham in 1991, he joined the Aga Khan Studs in June of 2000. Since then, horses carrying His Highness The Aga Khan's distinctive silks...

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,...

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...

Prix du Jockey Club winner and Arc runner-up Vadeni (Fr), who also landed the Eclipse S. at Sandown in a spellbinding 3-year-old campaign, has been retired.  The highest rated son of Churchill (Ire) won five times for Jean-Claude Rouget and carried the colours of the Aga Khan. He will join the stallion ranks at Haras de Bonneval, where he will stand alongside Siyouni (Fr), Zarak (Fr) and Dariyan (Fr). No fee has been decided on yet.  Georges Rimaud, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, commented, "We are delighted...

Over 700 individuals from 42 countries on six continents registered to attend the International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation's (ITBF) third annual webinar held this past Thursday. Some of the highlights from the webinar include "Aga Khan Studs - A Centenary of Success" presented by legendary journalist, author and television racing presenter Brough Scott MBE. Scott was joined by French Studs manager Georges Rimaud, who answered a variety of questions submitted by attendees from all over the world. ITBF's Vice Chairman, Dr. Des Leadon, then introduced Professor Anne Couroucé of Nantes University,...

The film Aga Khan Studs--A Centenary of Success will be streamed as part of the annual global webinar of the International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF) at noon on Jan. 19. The film celebrates the Aga Khan's breeding and racing achievements over the past 100 years. Presented by journalist, author and television broadcaster, Brough Scott, the presentation examines the involvement of the Aga Khan Royal Family over four generations. Attendees can then take part in a live Q&A session with Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan Studs' French manager. A veterinary section...

The Aga Khan Studs is celebrating 100 years of success in 2022, making the emergence of Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) as one of the most talented colts in training and Zarak (Fr) being one of the hottest young stallion prospects in Europe all the more fitting.     Georges Rimaud has played an integral role in the success of the organisation. The manager of HH Aga Khan's studs in France, Rimaud reflected on the success of Vadeni in Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and shared his delight at the popularity of...

When Aga Khan homebred Zarak (Fr) retired to stud at Haras de Bonneval in 2018, he boasted exemplary credentials: by the sire-making Dubawi (Ire), Zarak was a Group 1 winner out of the Aga Khan's great champion mare Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). Zarak did his best running at four when he won the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over 2400 metres for trainer Alain de Royer Dupre, and therefore his first 2-year-olds in 2021 could have been somewhat forgiven should they have required time. They, however, most certainly did not. Zarak...

With France on Tuesday placed under a mandatory 15-day lockdown, whereby all but 'essential' outings are prohibited, the likelihood of the Thoroughbred breeding season continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic has been called into question. Though government directives are changing day-to-day-and rumours are spreading as quickly as the coronavirus itself-as of Wednesday afternoon it was business almost as usual at major studs in the Normandy region. "Things tend to change very quickly and there is a certain amount of [speculation] going around on Twitter and elsewhere suggesting the breeding season should...