2013 positive on all fronts.

Aga Khan Studs sire Dalakhani is on his way back home to Gilltown Stud in Ireland following an excellent first shuttle season in Australia. The four-time Group 1 winner was particularly well-received in the Southern Hemisphere, where he covered a high-class book of 97 mares while standing at Cornerstone Stud. These featured a number of Group 1 siblings including Global Dance, a Sadler’s Wells half-sister to Dalakhani’s Irish Oaks winning daughter Moonstone and Group 1 victrix Cerulean Sky (Darshaan), Shanghai Moon, who is a half-sister to Group 1 scorer Pernod and Drunken Sister, half-sister to McKinnon Stakes winner Alcopop, whose dam Iota of Luck was also sent to Dalakhani. Dance Of The Sea (Sinndar) was covered by Dalakhani, repeating the cross which produced dual Breeders’ Cup Turf, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and St Leger hero Conduit, out of this mare’s half-sister Well Head.

Dalakhani has enjoyed a most successful campaign in 2013 with his progeny both on the racetrack and in the sales ring. The Arc hero began the year strongly with the Group 1 victory of Reliable Man in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, Sydney on the colt’s second Australian start. The 2011 Prix du Jockey Club scorer was injured in this race and was therefore retired to begin a new stallion career at Westbury Stud in New Zealand. German-trained Seismos became Dalakhani’s second Group 1 winner of the year when lifting the Grosser Preis von Bayern in August and this talented colt also finished runner-up to Novellist in the Gr 1 Grosser Preis von Baden and third in the Gr 1 Canadian International.

At public auction, Dalakhani’s progeny have turned in a healthy profit for breeders and vendors. The sire registered an average of 174,500 euros for his yearlings sold, multiplying his 2011 stud fee of 35,000 euros by a factor of 5. His top yearling of the season was a filly out of a half-sister to Goldikova and Galikova, who was sold by Newsells Park Stud for 450,000 Guineas at Tattersalls in October.

Dalakhani will stand for a fee of 25,000 euros at Gilltown Stud for the 2014 season, alongside Sea The Stars and Azamour.

Updated on 21/12/2013.