CURRENT STARS

Some of the current star racehorses running in the colours of H.H. the Aga Khan and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.
"He has a turn of foot that is wonderful to see."
Princess Zahra Aga Khan

The son of Gleneagles made his juvenile debut at Deauville in August, finishing third to promising Zarak colt Metropolitan despite racing wide around the track. He next start was a winning one, and an impressive one at that, as he scored by 10 lengths at Chantilly.

Calandagan returned to action in March 2024 in the Listed Prix François Mathet at Saint-Cloud, collecting his first piece of blacktype in a close-fought battle with the winner Bright Picture, the pair of them stretching clear of the field.

The following month, Calandagan made a successful reversal of form with Bright Picture, defeating him in the Gr.3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp for his first success at Stakes level. It was quickly followed up by another Group 3 win, this time in the Prix Hocquart, which set the progressive gelding up for a trip to Royal Ascot.

Calandagan fully justified his trip across the Channel, routing his rivals for a six-length win in the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes, which provided France with their first victory of the 2024 Royal meeting.

“He is a fantastic horse–today he was perfect,” said jockey Stéphane Pasquier. “The pace was fast enough to come from behind and everything was easy. He can be a naughty boy sometimes and we have to ask him nicely, but today he wanted to do it all and when he is like this, he is a fantastic horse. I didn't do anything, I just asked him to do it by himself.”

Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who accepted the trophy on behalf of her father, added: “He has been improving over the last few months, but today he surprised all of us and has shown himself to be a very good horse. It is not one of our oldest families, but is a very consistent family. They tend to be a mile-and-a-half horses, but he has a turn of foot that is wonderful to see.”

Calandagan returned to England in August for his first try at top level, heading to York for the Gr.1 International Stakes. Coming wide around the final turn, Calandagan kept on well in his attempt to run down the favourite, Derby winner City Of Troy. In the end, he finished second by a length, the first two home breaking the track record set by Sea The Stars in 2009.

“It was a fantastic run. They jumped very fast and then they took a pull and that didn’t suit us, as we found ourselves quite far from the lead,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.

“He tried my horse, the way he quickened in the straight, it was fantastic to watch. I shouted as I was thinking we were coming to get him (City Of Troy), but he kept pushing and he is a champion.

“I’m very proud of our horse. It is the first time he has run in a Group 1 and we didn’t have any Group 1 form before, so there were still a lot of question marks – but the way he accelerated in the straight was fantastic and he is a very good horse.”


[ FIND OUT MORE ON CALANDAGAN ]

Candala made her two-year-old debut at the end of August 2023, taking third in a maiden at ParisLongchamp. On her second and final outing that year, she won the Prix de la Mare aux Oiseaux at Chantilly by an easy four lengths, identifying herself as an exciting Classic prospect for the following season.
She headed straight into Stakes company for her first run of 2024, and did not disappoint, with a fast-finishing victory in the Gr.3 Prix de la Grotte. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard afterwards confirmed that the filly would next be aimed at the Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.

[ FIND OUT MORE ON CANDALA ]

As a three-year-old, Dolayli showed great consistency, winning three races and placing twice in five starts. On his final outing that year, he became the third Stakes performer from three runners out of Dolniya when placing second in the Listed Prix Lyphard.

Dolayli missed his four-year-old season, but returned with style at five, winning his first three starts in the first three months of 2024. They included the Class 1 Prix Darshaan, where Dolayli finished five lengths ahead of dual Group 1 winner Junko.


[ FIND OUT MORE ON DOLAYLI ]

The son of Gleneagles made a promising sole start at two, finishing second at Saint-Cloud despite being stuck on the rail. He was again runner-up on his first start at three, before notching up four successive wins, the latter of which was the Listed Prix Jacques de Bremond at Vichy in July 2024. 


[ FIND OUT MORE ON ELAMAZ ]

She made two starts as a two-year-old, winning her second race at Cork despite dwelling at the start. 

On her three-year-old debut, she registered a first black type success in the Gr.3 Salsabil Stakes, swooping late and entering the frame for The Oaks at Epsom.

“I thought she would run a big race and she did,” said trainer Dermot Weld said. “It was a very true-run Group race and they went a real good gallop for a mile-and-a-quarter. Chris [Hayes - jockey] took his time on her. He planned to sit a little bit closer, but the pace they were going he waited. I loved the way she attacked the hill and saw her race out well. Better ground will suit her better. It is a lovely family, a good, tough family and I think she will get a mile-and-a-half. She is a Group 1 filly and there's lots to look forward to. She is in both [the Oaks and Irish Oaks] and we will review it and see.”

Ezeliya duly lined up for the Oaks at Epsom. Positioned mid-pack by jockey Chris Hayes, the filly slipped comfortably into the lead at the entrance of the straight to win by three lengths. She became a first winner of the race for H.H. the Aga Khan, and the 99th individual Group 1 winner for His Highness and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.

Trainer Dermot Weld said after the race: 'She's a beautiful filly to train. She's not a big filly, but has a lot of quality and these races are all special.”


[ FIND OUT MORE ON EZELIYA ]

"She's not big but has a good turn of foot. "

By Sea The Stars (sire of the aforementioned Harzand and Emily Upjohn and broodmare sire of Big Rock), Hanalia made her racecourse debut as a three-year-old, placing fourth at Gowran Park. Two-and-a-half weeks later, she broke her maiden at The Curragh, and the following month scored her first piece of blacktype in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial. 

Trainer Johnny Murtagh said: “She always showed us plenty, she was one of the ones we really liked and were looking forward to her this year. Her form has worked out with the second horse (from The Curragh) winning pretty well at Down Royal last week and we were coming here confident.

“She's not big but has a good turn of foot and it worked out very well today.”


[ FIND OUT MORE ON HANALIA ]

He made an early debut as a two-year-old in 2023, breaking his maiden by an easy two and a half lengths in mid-April. On his next start, he finished a close second, before being put away for the following season.

Keran made another successful seasonal debut in a Class 2 at Cagnes in February 2024, extending his winning margin to four and a half lengths, before landing his first bit of blacktype when second on heavy ground in the Gr.3 Prix Djebel at Deauville.


[ FIND OUT MORE ON KERAN ]

"It’s my first Group 1 for the Aga Khan and it’s a Classic, with a filly I’ve always loved."

Twice a runner at two - placing on debut and then winning at Deauville in November - Rouhiya came back in April the following year to be third in the Prix du Louvre at ParisLongchamp.

After working well at home, Rouhiya was sent back to the same track the following month for a big step up in grade. The decision proved the right one, as the filly surged ahead 200 metres from the line to claim a fifth victory in the Gr.1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in the colours of His Highness the Aga Khan.

Combined with the successes of Princesse Zahra Aga Khan and Prince Aly Khan, it represented an eighth success in this race for the Aga Khan family, equalling the record of Marcel Boussac and the Rothschild family.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said after the race: “It took a long time to get her out this season because she's a real good-ground filly. But she came on a bundle for the run. I really hesitated before committing to this race but Princess Zahra [Aga Khan] said to me that there’s only one Poule d’Essai and that we should try our luck. It’s my first Group 1 for the Aga Khan and it’s a Classic, with a filly I’ve always loved."

Princess Zahra added: “Our breeding operation is currently enjoying great success with the likes of stallions Zarak and Siyouni. This success is not a coincidence, it’s a long-term effort. It’s a game of chess with nature as my father likes to say, but this is what we are trying to do. […] On a personal level, seeing this family reborn is wonderful. The strain has been quiet for several generations and seeing it come back is a very special feeling. It’s the reward for decades of work.”

[ FIND OUT MORE ON ROUHIYA ]

The Australia filly ran once at two, running well to take third in a fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown behind subsequent Stakes winner and Group 1 performer Sounds Of Heaven. Returning to the track in 2023, Shamida was again third in a fillies’ maiden - which was this time won by Warm Heart, who would later go on to Group 1 victory in the Yorkshire Oaks. 

Shamida got off the mark at the third time of asking at Leopardstown, and returned to the same track later in the season to win the Gr.3 Stanerra Stakes, showing great courage to get up by a head. The following month, she won her third race in succession, keeping on well to take the Gr.3 Irish St Leger Trial Stakes and demonstrating that she was a filly with Group 1 potential. 

After a break from the track, Shamida returned in July the following year. She made an encouraging comeback run in the Gr.2 Curragh Cup, before picking up the third Group race of her career in the Gr.3 Give Thanks Stakes, which she won going away.

Afterwards Kris Weld, son of trainer Dermot, reported: “She is a very brave an honest filly and a very good one. The distance was slightly short for her but she showed a good turn of foot at the top of the straight. She has plenty of entries in the autumn and she’ll be going back up to Group 1 level again.”


[ FIND OUT MORE ON SHAMIDA ]

This remarkably consistent perfomer won one race and placed once at two. Starting off in March of his three-year-old season, he placed third at Saint-Cloud before notching up a quick hat-trick of wins, the third of which was the Listed Prix Frédéric de Lagrange, which he won by two lengths.
[ FIND OUT MORE ON SHAMARKAND ]

She became the first winner of 2023 for H.H. the Aga Khan when she broke her maiden on 12th January at Lyon. She went on to win four more times that season, including the Listed Prix Joubert at ParisLongchamp in September, where she kept on well to win by two-and-a-half lengths. 

On her final race of 2023, Shembala placed a close third to subsequent Group 1 winner Double Major in the Gr.2 Prix Chaudenay over Arc weekend. 

[ FIND OUT MORE ON SHEMBALA ]

Despite being a big, galloping colt, Sibayan showed precocity as a two-year-old, winning twice and placing once in three outings.

He made a winning seasonal debut early the following season, and after a respectable fifth place finish behind Calandagan in the Gr.3 Prix Noialles in April, he landed his first Stakes success in the Listed Derby du Midi not long after.


[ FIND OUT MORE ON SIBAYAN ]

Simada, a daughter of the late Le Havre, was unplaced on her only start at two in December 2023, but it didn’t take long to get to winning ways. She became the first winner of 2024 for The Aga Khan Studs on 3rd January, and followed up with another victory before the month was out.

Stepped up to Stakes company next time out, she then finished second in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. 


[ FIND OUT MORE ON SIMADA ]

Sumiha raced just once as a three-year-old, but the run was a winning one, where she beat the odds-on favourite to land a maiden at The Curragh.

Returning the following spring, she was pitched straight into Stakes company,  and finished runner-up in both the Listed Noblesse Stakes and the Listed Orby Stakes. On her next start, she was upped to Group level, where she ran on well to win the Munster Oaks at Cork.


[ FIND OUT MORE ON SUMIHA ]

The Dermot Weld-trained filly broke her maiden at two at the second time of asking. Brought back at three, she ran consistently with credit all year, though without passing the post in front. Her five blacktype placings included a second in the Gr.3 Cornelscourt Stakes, and she also finished a good fourth behind stablemate Tahiyra in the Gr.1 Irish 1000 Guineas.

The following season, Tarawa was again placed at Stakes level before upping her game to win the Listed Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown.

“Tarawa deserved that. She has a lot of Group blacktype and it was her first time over this trip. It opens up a lot more options for her. I love the way she quickened and put it away so quickly,” said Dermot Weld after the race.

A second place in the Gr.3 Meld Stakes followed, before Tarawa went one better by winning the Gr.3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes at The Curragh at the end of August. Fellow Aga Khan Studs homebred Hanalia finished runner-up.

“It was a good performance by her, she’s been a model of consistency,” said Weld. “I know she’s been placed more times in Group races, but she has a lot of black type and having won a Stakes race at Leopardstown, it was just lovely to go and win a Group race with her today.”


[ FIND OUT MORE ON TARAWA ]

Zabiari made an impressive winning two-year-old debut in May 2023 at ParisLongchamp, and was subsequently sent straight to Stakes company at Deauville. He placed a close second in both the Prix Roland de Chambure (to the more experienced and subsequent Group winner Beauvatier) and the Critérium du Fonds Européen de l'Elevage (a race won by subsequent Champion Three-Year-Old Vadeni in 2021), before stepping up to a mile in the Gr.3 Prix de Chênes.

He won Group 3 contest in good style, defeating two other Stakes horses and suggesting that he could be a Group 1 colt in the making.


[ FIND OUT MORE ON ZABIARI ]

Zarir won two of his five starts at three, and was also placed third in the Listed Prix Frédéric de Lagrange. He upped his game further at four, winning his first two races early in the season before pitching straight into Group 1 company in the Prix Ganay against much more experienced Group performers. In this he finished second by a head, finishing fast despite having been boxed in in the run-in. He had however confirmed his potential as a Group 1 horse. 


[ FIND OUT MORE ON ZARIR ]

"She is all class and, hopefully, we will have a nice Classic prospect for next year."
Francis-Henri Graffard

ZARIGANA made a highly promising start with a four length-victory in the Prix de la Butte Blanche at Chantilly in July. She confirmed her potential on her second outing and first attempt at Stakes level with an impressive three length victory at ParisLongchamp.

Her trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said on this occastion: “I loved how she travelled on that [soft] ground and, when Mickael [Barzalona] switched her out, she did it all on her own. It was really nice to watch, she is a lovely looking filly with a great temperament and the only question is would she have another gear if asked for more. Of course, if she comes out of this race well, she will come back in the Marcel Boussac. She is all class and, hopefully, we will have a nice Classic prospect for next year.”

Her pedigree is steeped in quality, as she is the daughter of SIYOUNI, a Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère winner, and the granddaughter of the unbeaten champion ZARKAVA, who claimed the Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac and the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Her dam, Zarkamiya, was a Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 placed during her racing career, and she is a sister to Zarak. She is back in foal to SIYOUNI this year.


[ FIND OUT MORE ON ZARIGANA ]

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