Classic sire extends his stay at Haras de Bonneval The Aga Khan Studs are pleased to announce that dual Gr. 1 winning sire Makfi is set to prolong his stint in France, and will stand for a second season at the Haras de Bonneval next year. This decision has been taken by Qatar Bloodstock and the Aga Khan Studs, following the enthusiastic reception reserved to the young sire by breeders in France, and his excellent results on the racetrack.

A son of Dubawi and the Green Desert mare Dhelaal, Makfi was trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, and lifted the Gr.1 Prix Jacques le Marois after his Classic success in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. He was retired to Tweenhills Stud in England and at Westbury Stud in New Zealand for the south hemisphere season and immediately made a great impact with his progeny.

Makfi recorded his first top level prize as a sire thanks to his juvenile son MARKY MARK, winner of the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni in New Zealand in March. He then hit the headlines in Europe in May as his son MAKE BELIEVE stormed to victory in the Gr. 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp, in the process defeating subsequent Jockey Club, Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and Prix Niel winner New Bay.

Successes have continued to flow for Makfi, who counts 5 Stakes winners among his progeny, and a total of 12 Stakes performers to date. The stallion boasts an impressive strike rate of 47% of winners to runners, and he lies second in the European standings for second-crop sires. In the same ranking, in order of prize money, he is also second behind co-Bonneval resident Siyouni. In 2015, Makfi has recorded no less than 41 three-year-old individual winners and 12 two-year-old individual winners.

Makfi will be joined at the Aga Khan Studs’ Haras de Bonneval by fellow Qatar Bloodstock sire Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit), a triple Gr.1 winner, as intended with the partnership between the two breeding operations. Proven Aga Khan Studs sire Dalakhani will also travel to Normandy to pursue his stallion career at Bonneval.

Updated on 23/09/2015.