The 3100m Prix Royal-Oak, programmed this year at Saint-Cloud due to the Longchamp renovations, constituted a major test for Vazirabad who was facing his elders for the first time. The colt passed his test with flying colours.

After a steady climb through the ranks, with four consecutive wins beginning with condition race in July and culminating in a Group 2 success in the Prix Chaudenay during Arc weekend, Vazirabad was participating in his first Group 1 contest when lining up for the Prix Royal-Oak.

On this first attempt at the highest level, the son of Manduro defeated his illustrious elders including Prix du Cadran scorer Mille Et Mille and the popular champion Cirrus des Aigles. The rise of Alain de Royer Dupré’s charge was confirmed by an impressive victory, completing a family success story. Vazirabad’s dam Visorama, a Linamix half-sister to Gr.1 Prix de la Forêt winner Varenar, is a Group winner over 2100m, who has already produced Listed victrix and Group placed Visoriyna (Dansili).

Vazirabad has now stamped himself as a top class stayer and he will remain in training in 2016 to be aimed at all the top long-distance contests.

A day earlier in Ireland, Zannda took the honours for H.H. the Aga Khan’s colours.

The filly signed her third career victory when lifting the Listed Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown. The daughter of the much-missed Azamour adapted well to the heavy ground to win a second Stakes contest after taking the Gr.3 Give Thanks Stakes in August. Zannda is out of Dalakhani mare Zanoubiya, a great granddaughter of Zarna, who is the third dam of the exceptional Zarkava.