The Aga Khan bred Sharbayan ran out the convincing winner of an allowance race at Keeneland yesterday afternoon, after an eleven month lay off. A Group III winner in France, Sharbayan was sold privately to Eugenio Colombo on behalf of US clients in August 2001. He was winning his second race from only four starts in the States. A winner of an allowance race a year ago, Sharbayan then finished third in the Jim Murray Memorial Handicap last May.

Sharbayan was held up towards the rear of the field in the early part of the race. Unable to find room on the inside, he was switched and made his move five wide, running on strongly to eventually win by half a length.

Sharbayan’s victory represents yet another success for confirmed broodmare sire Kahyasi, following the 2003 Stakes victories of Heat Haze and Wrong Key.