Blue hen mare Asmara has passed away peacefully at the age of 27. A dual Listed winner under the training of John Oxx, Asmara leaves an enduring legacy at the Aga Khan Studs. She was the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed Arazan and most notably of four-time Group 1 winning Champion Azamour, who won the Gr.1 St James’s Palace Stakes and Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes before retiring to Gilltown Stud. The multiple Group 1 sire of Valyra and Dolniya is now proving a valuable broodmare sire, with the likes of Group 1 winner Siyarafina a recent example.

Asmara’s influence more recently shone through her daughter Azmiyna, whose second foal is none other than Australian five-time Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun, bred in partnership with Arrowfield. The young mare is currently in foal to Deep Impact and is due to visit Siyouni this year.