Dolniya provided the highlight of a superb weekend for the Aga Khan Studs with her dominating performance in the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic. At home in France, Karaktar lifted the Listed Prix François Mathet, while the promising Ashraf opened his account in Ireland.

The beautifully-bred Dolniya seems to have improved over the winter and under a perfect ride from Christophe Soumillon, the filly stormed away from a high-class international field in the Sheema Classic. She recorded the first Gr.1 success of her career with a length and a quarter in hand from Flintshire, and the third placed horse a further two lengths back.

Trained by Alain de Royer Dupré, Dolniya had already shown great talent during 2014 when winning the Gr.2 Prix de Malleret, finishing third in the Gr.1 Prix Vermeille and taking fifth position in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She is now set for an exciting campaign as a four-year-old with targets including the Yorkshire Oaks, Prix Vermeille and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Dolniya is by the late Gilltown stallion Azamour, and represents one of the Aga Khan Studs leading maternal lines as she is out of Daltama, an Indian Ridge half-sister to Dalakhani, Daylami and Dalghar.

On the same day at Saint-Cloud, Karaktar posted an impressive demonstration when winning the Listed Prix François Mathet by seven lengths on his seasonal debut. Group placed as a juvenile for Alain de Royer Dupré, Karaktar is now likely to run in the Gr.3 Prix Noailles at Longchamp.

The colt is a son of High Chaparral and dual winner Karawana (King’s Best), who has also produced Karezak, a Gr.1 runner-up over hurdles, and Listed-placed Karatash.

Another colt with a bright future could be Ashraf, after the son of Cape Cross opened his account by almost five lengths at the Curragh on Sunday. This Dermot Weld trainee is the first offspring of his Sadler’s Wells dam Askeria, a half-sister to Azamour. The Gr.3 Ballysax Stakes could be a next objective for Ashraf, who holds an entry in the Irish Derby.