Sibayan

2021 b. g. Blame - Sirrin (Sea The Stars)

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard

A son of the US-based stallion Blame, Sibayan’s dam Sirrin is a dual Listed winning daughter of Sea The Stars, descending from the family of champion Sinndar.

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.

Returning to the track as a four-year-old, Sibayan won his seasonal debut, then picked up two Group placings in the Gr.3 Prix d’Hedouville and Gr.2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. The latter race was run in honour of Sibayan’s breeder, the Aga Khan IV.

In July, Sibayan picked up his first Group success in the Gr.2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, on his first try stepped up in trip to 14 furlongs. It was the sixth win of his career, quickly followed by the seventh when Sibayan landed the Gr.2 Grand Prix de Deauville by an impressive three lengths.

Sibayan quickly made it a hat-trick, starting favourite for the Gr.1 Preis Von Europa at Cologne and duly obliging – becoming a 10^th Group 1 winner for Sea The Stars as a broodmare sire in the process. It was the fifth Group 1 success for the Aga Khan Studs in Germany, and a first at Cologne since Sumayr won this race in 1985.