The 2003 Horse of the Year was 21. The Aga Khan Studs are saddened to announce that homebred Champion Dalakhani has passed away on 15 January at the age of 21. Bred in Ireland, Dalakhani was a pure product of the Aga Khan Studs operation, being a son of the Aga Khan’s Prix du Jockey Club winner Darshaan out of the Miswaki, blue hen mare, Daltawa.

Through his exceptional race career, Dalakhani won eight of his nine races. He remained unbeaten at two, winning notably the Gr.1 Critérium International before going on to win the Gr.1 Prix Lupin, Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at three under the training of Alain de Royer-Dupré and the ride of Christophe Soumillon. Dalakhani was crowned Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old in 2003.

H.H. the Aga Khan declared after his final run in Longchamp: "He's outstanding on the basis of what we've seen as a two-year-old, three-year-old, over all distances and on all going. It's very difficult to make comparisons, but this horse has a concentration of unusual talents, and that's what gives him the ability to accelerate when he needs to accelerate, to follow a pace when he needs to follow a pace, and to handle all goings."

Retired to Gilltown Stud in 2004, Dalakhani sired ten Group 1 winners, including Classic winners Moonstone (Irish Oaks) and Reliable Man (Prix du Jockey Club), Chinese White (Pretty Polly Stakes), Integral (Falmouth and Sun Chariot Stakes), dual Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Conduit and more recently, Coronation Stakes winner Defoe. He is now leaving his mark as a broodmare sire, with notable examples such as recent Champion Two-Year-Old Pinatubo.

Dalakhani was retired from covering duties in 2016 and was enjoying a peaceful retirement at Haras d’Ouilly in Normandy.

Updated on 15/01/2021.