First yearlings by Harzand and Dariyan attract attention. The Aga Khan Studs stallions feature strongly in the forthcoming Arqana yearling catalogue for the premier sale from 17th to 19th August, with beautiful pedigrees by proven Group 1 sires Sea The Stars and Siyouni accompanied by members of the eagerly awaited first generation of yearlings by dual Derby hero Harzand and the blue-blooded Dariyan.

Sea The Stars is enjoying a stellar season on the track, thanks notably to champion stayer Stradivarius, and Longines World’s Best Racehorse Crystal Ocean. The Arc hero is represented by nine yearlings at Deauville and among these are the offspring of German champion juvenile Bourrée (lot 62) and the prolific American Group and Listed winner Rusty Slipper (lot 158). Lot 11 is the first offspring of a half-sister to Gr.1 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa, from the family of Pride, lot 22 is out of a half-sister to Gr. 1 Irish Oaks and Gr.1 Prix de l’Opéra heroine Covert Love, and lot 335 is the son of a half-sister to Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Rosanara.

Leading French stallion Siyouni is responsible for 31 yearlings in the premier sale and attractions include lot 8, a filly out of Stakes winning Siamsaiocht who is a full sister to Dewhurst Stakes scorer Parish Hall, lot 42 whose Listed winning dam Aliyfa is the half-sister to Group 1 stayer Alandi. Lots 165 and 216 are out of half-sisters to Classic winners Stacelita and Aquarelliste respectively, while lot 77 is a half-brother to Group 3 scorer Devant, out of a Galileo half-sister to Prix du Jockey Club winner Blue Canari. Top-class Aga Khan maternal lines are represented by lots 74, 76, 202 and 205, and lot 132 shares her page with matriarch Urban Sea.

Siyouni is also represented in the V2 catalogue on 20th August which privileges French-bred pedigrees. Lot 340 is a son of Group 3 winner and Prix de Diane Gr.1 third Sandbar, and lot 348 is a half-brother to four winners.

Haras de Bonneval resident Dariyan counts four Deauville yearlings two of these boast Group winning juveniles as siblings. Lot 79 is a half-brother to Group 3 winner and Group 1 third Anodor, and lot 248 shares his dam with Souvenir Delondres. Lot 265 is out of a winning half-sister to Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Gr.1 Prix Jacques le Marois runner-up Shaman, while lot 244 is a daughter of Listed winner and Group placed Dance In the Park. This filly was selected by consigner Guillaume Vitse as the pick of his Normandie Breeding draft, “she is a superb filly with a lot of class,” before adding that Dariyan is his young sire to follow, “a son of Shamardal with plenty of advantages at a competitive price.”

To see videos of Dariyan’s first yearlings, please click here.

Dual Derby hero Harzand, by Sea The Stars, has two individuals in the main Arqana catalogue. Lot 238 is a grandson of EP Taylor Stakes winner Choc Ice, and lot 338 is a half-brother to Listed winner Esteve and grandson of dual Group winner Trumbaka. The latter was described as “exceptional” by Pierre Talvard of the Haras du Cadran.

To see videos of Harzand’s first yearlings, please click here.

Updated on 13/08/2019