Shahwardi, Behkabad and Rajsaman all score in Stakes contests. HH Aga Khan’s French stable has been in fine form recently, enjoying three Stakes wins over the last week, in addition to Ashalanda’s Gr 3 second in Italy.

Progressive juvenile Rajsaman set the ball rolling on 18th September when successful in the Listed Criterium de Lyon. Alain de Royer Dupré’s charge showed good acceleration in the mile event and stayed on gamely to collar Broken Kitten, already a Listed scorer at the track. This was the son of Linamix’s second consecutive victory after having opened his account in August at Clairefontaine, and he looks to have plenty of improvement still to come. The full brother to dual Listed scorer Rosawa could next be seen out in the Gr 3 Prix Thomas Bryon on 9th October.

The following day another promising juvenile, Behkabad, demonstrated Classic potential with victory in the Gr 3 Prix des Chênes at Longchamp. The son of Cape Cross and Gr 2 Prix Hubert de Chaudenay winner Behkara ,and half-brother to possible Arc hope Beheshtam, put in a decisive burst of speed in the final furlong to score by ¾ of a length and maintain his unbeaten record in three outings. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, if Behkabad runs again this season, it will be in the Gr 1 Criterium International.

Three-year-old Shahwardi also remains unbeaten in three races after taking the Listed Prix de Turenne at Chantilly on 22 September. Alain de Royer Dupré’s colt did not make his racecourse debut until July of this year and since then has not put a foot wrong, winning over ten furlongs and a mile. His handler indicated that he could now aim for the Gr 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris. Shahwardi is a son of Lando and Shamdara, who is the half-sister to dual Gr 1 heroine Shamdala, and already dam of Prix du Jockey-Club runner-up and Gr 1 Secretariat Stakes winner Shamdinan.

In addition to this trio of black-type successes, the lightly-raced Ashalanda narrowly missed out on a second Group victory as she finished second in the Gr 3 Premio Frederico Tesio at San Siro. The daughter of Linamix nevertheless confirmed her talents after a surprise win in the Gr 2 Prix Malleret back in June. Ashalanda holds an entry in the Gr 2 Pride Stakes at Newmarket on 17th October and is likely to remain in training next season at four years old.

Updated on 28/09/2009