The Aga Khan

The Curragh's Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden that opened Saturday's rain-hit card is a race with a rich history and despite the failure of Ballydoyle's trio to make the frame there was no reason to believe this year's renewal was not up to scratch. Emerging best was the Aga Khan's Hazdann (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Hazmiyra {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}), who had no space to express himself in the straight when a non-representative ninth in the seven-furlong Gowran Park maiden won by Ballydoyle's The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) 13 days...

Wednesday's Listed Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial looked a hot contest beforehand and it proved just that as The Aga Khan unearthed another 2024 Classic contender in Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Hanakiyya {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Settled in rear by Ben Coen early, the 16-1 shot who had taken a 10-furlong Curragh maiden last month was in the right place with the pace on up front and the pressure turned up in early straight. Launched wide to overhaul the Ger Lyons representative Bellezza (Ire) (Siyouni...

Following his emphatic success in Friday's G2 King Edward VII Stakes, The Aga Khan's Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Calayana {Fr}, by Sinndar {Ire}) can arguably lay claim to being France's leading middle-distance performer. While the G1 Prix du Jockey Club passed him by due to his gelding operation and the Arc is not for him for the same reason, the future looks bright for the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained homebred after his six-length success in this mile-and-a-half "Ascot Derby". Rewarding a numerically-strong French Royal Ascot challenge this year by becoming the first from...

Runner-up in this track's Listed Noblesse S. and in The Curragh's Listed Orby S. in her prior two starts this term, The Aga Khan's Sumiha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) stepped up a notch on Friday evening to garner a breakthrough win in Cork's G3 Darley Munster Oaks. Anchored towards the back early by Chris Hayes, the Dermot Weld-trained relative of Sinndar (Ire) stayed on resolutely to collar Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) passing the two-furlong pole and register a 1 1/4-length success as the 11-8 favourite. "It was run at...

Continuing a banner year for The Aga Khan, Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Eziyra {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) led home a one-two for her sire in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks and provided her owner-breeder with a first success in the Epsom Classic in the process. Booking her ticket with a win in the 10-furlong G3 Salsabil S. at Navan last month, the Dermot Weld-trained relative of the G1 Gold Cup-winning half-siblings Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) was always travelling with menace held up by Chris Hayes. Admirably straightforward...

Before the storm, the finish to Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches had a true 80s throwback feel to it, with the world-famous Aga Khan and Sangster silks involved at the death of the ParisLongchamp Classic. When the photo was taken, it was the former's distinguished livery that was in front sported by the 31-1 outsider Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Rondonia {Ire}, by Raven's Pass), with the 45-1 shot Kathmandu (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) failing by a head to bring the Sangster colours back into the winner's spot after...

It is 16 years since The Aga Khan enjoyed the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-G1 Prix de Diane double with Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) and there was a genuine sense at ParisLongchamp on Sunday that he has a live prospect for a repeat. While the afternoon's G3 Prix de la Grotte winner Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}--Candarliya {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) can not yet be placed in the same bracket as that former luminary, the manner of her re-entry suggests that she is going to be one of the season's leading lights...

Becoming the 10th TDN Rising Star for Siyouni (Fr), who carried that mantle himself, The Aga Khan's Azada (Ire) conquered Leopardstown's deep surface to make the ideal start to her career in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden on Saturday. Out of Azmiyna (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose son The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) carried all before him in Australia, the 4-1 shot raced with two behind early after a tardy break from her wide draw. Cajoled forward by Leigh Roche from three out, the Dermot Weld-trained...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features TDN Rising Star Elbaz (Fr) (Siyouni {Ire}) making his stakes debut. 14.07 Bordeaux-Le Bouscat, Listed, €60,000, 2yo, 8fT Jean-Claude Rouget trainee ELBAZ (FR) (Siyouni {Ire}) attained 'TDN Rising Star' status at Deauville in July and lines up for this Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux coming back...

There were few surprise outcomes on Leopardstown's Irish Champions card on Saturday, merely simple rubber-stamping of the positions of the season's category leaders. Step forward The Aga Khan's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Coolmore America "Justify" Matron S., which has a history of upsets but which this time kept to script. If Dermot Weld, who had earlier opted to withdraw Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), had concerns about the winner's readiness beforehand one look...

Thursday's G3 Prix Des Chenes was robbed of TDN Rising Star Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), leaving just a trio for ParisLongchamp's mile contest and a slowly-run affair which saw The Aga Khan's Zabiari (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) prevail. Runner-up in the Listed Criterium du FEE at Deauville last month, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 6-5 second favourite followed the G3 Prix Francois Boutin winner Grey Man (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) around before being launched two out. In front soon after, he veered towards the rail inside the last half furlong to...

Coming through in a highly tactical renewal of the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on Friday, The Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) showed her class to widen her portfolio which already included an Irish 1000 Guineas and Moyglare Stud S. Sent off the 8-13 favourite to bridge a 45-year gap for Dermot Weld in this prestige event, the half-sister to Rosewell House's recent superstar Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) was instantly faced with adversity and a conundrum for Chris Hayes as she...