The Aga Khan Studs have announced Siyouni will stand at Bonneval Stud in Normandy for the 2011 breeding season.

A Group 1 winner at two and placed several times in Group 1s during the 2010 season, Siyouni represents an opportunity for French breeders to use a fast, precocious horse from a confirmed stallion producing family.

Siyouni started his two-year-old career in early May when he won three races over 5 furlongs including the Listed Prix La Fleche, the first stakes race for two-year-olds in France. After finishing second in both the Group 2 Prix Robert-Papin and Group 3 Prix La Rochette, Siyouni culminated his juvenile season by defeating future Group 1 winners Lope De Vega, Dick Turpin and Buzzword when taking the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère on Arc day in 2009.

This season Siyouni has proved a model of consistency finishing in the frame on four occasions from six starts, including a close third in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, 2nd in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, 2nd in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainbleau and 4th in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes.

A son of proven sire Pivotal, Siyouni’s dam Sichilla (Danehill x Slipstream Queen) is the half-sister of one France’s leading sire, Slickly.

His trainer, Alain de Royer Dupré, who is not known for rushing his young pupils "He was a very serious 2 yo with a lot of natural speed, which encouraged me to give him an early start in his career. He confirmed with regular performances at the highest level this year".

Henri Bozo, manager of Haras des Monceaux “the access to the Pivotal and Danehill blood presents a real interest for French breeders and we are very happy that he is staying in France”.

Eric Puerari, co-owner of Haras des Capucines « The French stallion market needs competitors that have both speed and precocity; Siyouni offers this, with his desirable combination of the sought-after blood of Pivotal and Danehill”.

Georges Rimaud, director of the Aga Khan Studs in France, describes him as “a good-looking individual, Siyouni is an opportunity for French breeders and we are delighted to welcome him at Bonneval, where he will be available to see in the next few weeks”.

Siyouni will join Sinndar at Bonneval for the 2011 breeding season and his covering fee will be announced shortly. The Aga Khan Studs also stand Sea The Stars, Dalakhani and Azamour at Gilltown Stud in Ireland.

For further details, please contact Georges Rimaud on +33.2.31.14.18.60 or georges.rimaud@agakhanstuds.com.

Updated on the 19/10/10