In recent years Arqana’s Arc sale has seen a host of Aga Khan Studs representatives change hands before going on to success at the highest level. On the flat, graduates include Melbourne Cup hope Lidari, a Group 2 winner in Australia for new connections, Meydan Group scorer Sandagiyr, and Rajsaman who collected a hat-trick of Stakes victories after passing through the Arqana ring. In the National Hunt sphere, the most well-known Aga Khan Studs graduate of this catalogue is triple Group 1 winning hurdler Zaidpour.

The 2014 Arc Sale features a pair of Aga Khan-bred colts, both boasting excellent pedigrees and promising results on the racetrack.

Behesht (lot 18) earned an important update since the publication of the Arc Sale catalogue as he lifted the Listed Prix Turenne over a mile and a half on 18th September. In addition to this success, he has won twice and finished second in another Listed contest over the same trip.

The colt is a son of Sea The Stars, whose daughter Taghrooda is currently favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the day after this sale. Behesht’s dam is the classy stayer Behkara (Kris), winner of the Gr.2 Prix Chaudenay and placed twice in the Gr.1 Prix Royal-Oak. She has already proved her worth in the paddocks, producing Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Behkabad, and Carthage (ex Beheshtam), Gr.2 Prix Niel runner-up, now exported to Hong Kong where he has also entered the winners enclosure.

His third dam Behera is a Group 1 victrix and second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and her descendants have enjoyed great success at the highest level under both codes.

Lot 25 Diaghan (Lawman) took second place in the Gr.3 Prix de Condé as a juvenile and was fourth in the Gr.3 Prix la Force in April. This grey colt is out of dual Group winner and Gr.1 Prix Vermeille second Diamilina (Linamix), dam of six winners including Diaghan. She is a full sister to Group 3 victrix Diamonixa and a half-sister to Group 3 scorer and three-time Group 1 runner-up Diamond Green. Another full-sister, Dali’s Grey, is dam of Melbourne Cup second Bauer.