Approximately half of the Aga Khan’s racing stock is trained in France by Alain de Royer Dupré at the Aiglemont training centre. This specially designed establishment is made up of 108 boxes, which are divided into 6 barns. It also includes an isolation barn, and all the usual modern amenities that make for a smooth-running yard that is pleasant for both horses and staff alike.

Alain de Royer Dupré supervises morning gallops

Recent Group I winners belonging to the Aga Khan and trained in France at Aiglemont include Shawanda, an impressive winner of the Irish Oaks Gr1 and Prix Vermeille Gr1 in 2005, Dalakhani, who won the Prix Lupin, Prix du Jockey Club and the Arc de Triomphe as a 3 year old, and Princess Zahra's triple Group 1 winner Mandesha and Darjina.

The training centre borders the famous Chantilly gallops known as "Les Aigles". Chantilly is the leading French training centre, set in the beautiful surroundings of its 15,000 acre forest. It consists of 4,700 acres of land, including 300 acres of grass gallops, and over 120 kilometres of sand gallops.

Since the purchase of the Lagardère stock in 2005, the Aga Khan has had around 35 horses in training with Jean-Claude Rouget. This excellent trainer continuez to provide a constant stream of winners for the Aga Khan Studs. In January 2008 a new association was started with two young Chantilly based trainers Richard Gibson and Mikel Delzangles. Both these up and coming handlers were sent 10 Aga Khan horses and the Aga Khan Studs looks forward to a long association with them.

In addition to the training facilities at Aiglemont, the Aga Khan also acquired the excellent pre-training facility on 80 hectares at Tupot, just 10 minutes from Ouilly. Here, yearlings are walked in hand, broken, and lightly ridden away on a curved, 900m all weather track. Horses that require rest and a spell of recuperation from the French training centres come to Tupot, in fact the recently retired Vahorimix is now “lead horse” for the youngstock here.