Thursday 15 January 2009
AK graduates ZAYNAR and EBADIYAN are among the favourites for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as the pair, both sons of Daylami, have adapted well to the jumping discipline.
EBADIYAN was the winner of one race and second in a Gowran Park Classic Trial for former trainer John Oxx and he changed hands for just 18,000 Euros at Goffs Horses in Training sale last autumn. The grey has now won his last two outings over hurdles, including an impressive 22-length victory at Naas and an eight-length domination of the Grade 3 Punchestown Juvenile Hurdle. EBADIYAN, who is a grandson of Irish Oaks heroine Ebadiyla and a three-quarter brother to Gr 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle scorer Ebaziyan, is likely to run once more before the Triumph Hurdle in March.
ZAYNAR, a 110,000 Euro purchase at ARQANA’s July sale, is also en route for the Triumph Hurdle after a fine performance to succeed on his debut over timber at Newbury. ZAYNAR is a son of Prix de Diane winner Zainta (Kahyasi), who is a half-sister to French Champion Hurdler Zaiyad.
SIMARIAN is another former AK protégé which could be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival. The son of Kalanisi was sold for 22,000 Guineas at Doncaster a year ago and has picked up four hurdle wins including the Gr 2 Prestbury Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in November. SIMARIAN is out of the half-sister to dual Derby and Arc winner Sinndar.
The Aga Khan Studs are also well represented in the Champion Hurdle entries at Cheltenham, with dual Gr 2 winner Afsoun who was third in the race in 2007, last year’s Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle runner up Ashkazar and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Ebaziyan all among the entries.
Updated on 15th January 2009
