Sendawar, World Champion Miler in 1999.

The Aga Khan launched his 1999 Group I campaign on a high note at Longchamp with Sendawar winning the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. The opposition included Mujahid and the formbook pointed to this having been a superior renewal of the French Classic. Mujahid had contested the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and been 3rd less than two lengths behind Island Sands. Now as Gérald Mossé set Sendawar alight one and a half furlongs from the finish, he left Mujahid almost seven lengths behind coming home a comfortable one and a half length winner from Dansili.

The decision to drop back to a mile was made following an earlier defeat over ten and a half furlongs in the Group II Prix Greffulhe in which Sendawar lost by only a length to Montjeu, who subsequently won the Prix du Jockey-Club, the Irish Derby and the Arc becoming the middle-distance champion three-year-old. Sendawar is the first Classic winner and is one of four Group I winners, for his sire Priolo, himself a triple French Group I winner. On the dam's side he is another endorsement for Darshaan, the outstanding broodmare sire in Europe.

Sendawar is a story of "sevens". His Highness was winning his seventh Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Out of Sendana, he traces back through seven generations to the Classic producer and foundation mare Teresina who at 7,700 guineas had been the top priced member of the first draft of Doncaster yearlings to be purchased by the late Aga Khan.

The French 2,000 Guineas form was itself to be put to the test following the decision of Sendawar's trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré, to challenge for the St. James's Palaces Stakes. The international significance of the St. James's Palace Stakes was three-fold in that the line-up included Orpen, Mujahid and Aljabr (favourite for the 2,000 Guineas until Godolphin decided on a challenge for the Kentucky Derby. A training set-back aborted this American venture but since his return the word from the Newmarket gallops had been ever more enthusiastic).

This information proved soundly based as, but for the intervention of Sendawar, Aljabr would have successfully defended his unbeaten record by a five length margin over Gold Academy (3rd). Mossé covered up Sendawar until it was time to strike and then easing his mount off the rails cut down the leader with an authoritative burst of speed to score by one and a quarter lengths.

The same waiting tactics were adopted when the pair renewed rivalry in the Emirates Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Even though Aljabr had in the interim won the Group I Champagne Lanson Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, Sendawar widened his margin of superiority, in the process setting a new record time for the race.

The decision to keep Sendawar in training at four produced one win from only three starts with an overnight change in ground leading to his last minute withdrawal from the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. His win was an impressive Group I success in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp where he won on the bridle by three lengths from the Prix Ganay winner Indian Danehill.