Dalakhani leads the way with Stakes wins, while Azamour and Sinndar juveniles impress. Chinese White’s victory in the Gr 2 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday was the highlight of a prolific week for the Aga Khan Studs’ stallions. The daughter of Dalakhani was winning her third consecutive pattern contest and is now firmly on course for the Prix de l’Opéra on Arc day at Longchamp. The following day in Italy, the same sire’s juvenile daughter Biancarosa lifted the Listed Premio Republiche Marinare over a mile at Capannelle and at Longchamp his three-year-old filly Shemiyla deservedly opened her account after filling the runner-up spot on all three previous outings. Two more Dalakhani fillies, the AK-owned Tanoura and Shemima, finished a short head apart in third and fourth position in the Gr 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, and the sire will have a live contender in Conduit to try to emulate his own consecration in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

First-crop sire Azamour has made a pleasing debut to his stud career with four individual winners already. His son Contract Caterer notched up his second victory last week in a Goodwood nursery event. Azamour’s best progeny to date is comfortable Listed winner Azmeel who should next be seen in action in either the Goffs Million at the Curragh or the Gr 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot.

Sinndar has proved this week that he is quite capable of producing precocious performers. The dual Derby and Arc winner celebrated a juvenile double courtesy of Higgy’s Ragazzo and Laristan who won their maidens respectively at Chepstow and Marseille-Borély. Earlier in the month, his two-year-old daughter Rosanara also impressed with a four-length success on her debut at Longchamp for HH Aga Khan. Sinndar’s four-year-old son Mr Sindrag won a conditions race at Siracuse in Italy last weekend and his most famous flagbearer Youmzain is yet again to line up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in which he has already finished second in the two previous editions.

Updated on 15/09/2009