Their progeny shone on the track as well as in the sales ring. The Aga Khan Studs flagship sires, Sea The Stars and Siyouni, have both enjoyed further Classic glory in 2019. Gilltown Stud’s Sea The Stars is ranked third leading European sire and won a second consecutive Gr.1 Irish Oaks thanks to the exceptional Star Catcher, also winner of the Gr.1 Prix Vermeille and Gr.1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. Crystal Ocean shared Longines World’s Best Racehorse honours with Enable and Waldgeist, and champion stayer Stradivarius recorded a streak of ten consecutive races.

Haras de Bonneval resident Siyouni was again crowned leading French-based sire. His principal representative was Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club hero and Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe third Sottsass, and 2018 Gr.1 Prix de Diane winner Laurens brought her Group 1 score up to six with victory in the Prix Rothschild during August.

The two sires also rewarded breeders in the sales ring, with their progeny attracting great interest at premier auctions across Europe, and notably a new record for a yearling by Siyouni, which sold for a bid of 1.3 million Guineas during Tattersalls Book 1. Sea The Stars has also been well represented during the sales with twelve of his yearlings selling for €500,000 or more and a top price of 875,000 guineas (€1,17 million).

The first yearlings by Sea The Stars’ dual Derby winning son Harzand, and the blue-blooded Dariyan, met with enthusiasm from breeders and investors with respectively four and two yearlings reaching six figure sums. Their debuts are eagerly anticipated on the track in 2020.

Zarak, the Group 1 winning son of Zarkava and Dubawi, is the latest recruit to ensure the continuity of the Aga Khan Studs. The most recent in an illustrious bloodline stretching back to Petite Etoile and Mumtaz Mahal, 2020 will see his first yearlings entering the market.

Updated on 16/12/2019