Sire continues his excellent strike-rate at all levels. The Aga Khan’s filly adds her name to those of Moonstone, Centennial, Democrate, Conduit and Chinese White as a black-type winner by Dalakhani. Shemima was awarded the Gr 3 Prix de Lutèce at Longchamp last Friday after passing the post in second place. The filly was hampered during her challenge in the final furlong and was promoted to first place after a stewards’ enquiry . This was a thoroughly well-deserved victory for the filly who had already finished second in both Listed and Gr 3 class. Shemima is out of Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka and she is a half-sister to two Listed winners in Shemala and Shemaya.

Dalakhani followed up on this Gr 3 win with a clean sheet for his five representatives over the weekend across Europe. HH Aga Khan and John Oxx enjoyed a double at Leopardstown with three-year-old Masiyma recording her second success of the campaign and juvenile Baliyana opening her account after having finished fifth in a Gr 2 event last time out. The green and red silks were also carried to victory in France by the Mikel Delzangles-trained Sersoura, successful at Evreux after finishing second on her debut at Maisons-Laffitte. The Michael Jarvis-trained Armure won her second race of the season when taking a handicap at Kempton and in Italy, Rewedal won his maiden in Rome.

This string of successes helps Dalakhani to achieve an exceptional strike-rate of 60% winners to runners for his first crop, and 42% winners to foals for the same generation.

Dalakhani will have the opportunity to add to his laurels this weekend as his son Centennial, winner of the Gr 3 Sandown Classic Trial in the spring, is due to line up in the Gr 2 Prix Niel, while Conduit is likely to be among the favourites for the St Leger at Doncaster. If Conduit were to be successful in this final Classic of the season, his sire will have accomplished the remarkable exploit of siring a pair of Classic winners in his first crop.

Updated on 10/09/2008