The versatility of the Aga Khan Studs was highlighted this weekend thanks to two successes at the top level on the flat and over hurdles.

In Australia, Mourayan (Alhaarth) lifted the prestigious Gr.1 Sydney Cup at Randwick, a well-deserved first victory in this category after three second places. The experienced individual is out of Gr.3 Prix de Royallieu winner Mouramara (Kahyasi), already dam of Melbourne Cup-placed Mourilyan (Desert Prince) and Mourad (Sinndar) multiple Group 2 scorer over hurdles. The tough and consistent Mourayan appears better than ever at age seven.

In Ireland, Diakali (Sinndar) became the most recent Group 1 winner over hurdles for the Aga Khan Studs when winning the Gr.1 Champion 4yo Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. Bought for €160,000 at Arqana’s July Sale in 2012 by Willie Mullins, Diakali carries the colours of Wicklow Bloodstock Limited. He had already shown plenty of promise in his new career, picking up a Grade 3 at Punchestown on only his second jumps outing before finishing second in the Gr.1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Diakali is a son of Sinndar and Linamix mare Diasilixa, winner of the Gr.3 Prix de Royaumont and a full sister to Prix Greffulhe scorer Diamond Mix. Diakali is the first Group 1 winner in the close family, which nevertheless boasts 11 Stakes winners. This is the second Group 1 winner by Sinndar over the jumps, who had already produced Mandali (Gr.1 Grande Course de Haies at Auteuil) as well as Group 1 placed Mourad and six further Stakes performers in this discipline.