Bred to be special, the G1 Hong Kong Vase heroine Daryakana's son Dariyan went through 2015 fitting the typically progressive profile of one of His Highness The Aga Khan's elite youngsters entrusted to the safe hands of Alain de Royer-Dupre. Educated with two conditions wins over 10 and 12 furlongs at this venue last May, the bay ran below expectations when only fourth as the favourite behind the subsequent G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Prix du Lys over the latter trip at Chantilly in June. Taking the measure of the G3 Prix de Guiche winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third War Dispatch (War Front) in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam over 10 furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte the following month, he met a peer with a touch more class in New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) when runner-up in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano also at that trip at Deauville in August. Back up to a mile and a half when third after a troubled trip in the Dec. 13 G1 Hong Kong Vase that his dam had conquered six years earlier, the homebred was sent to Dubai to contest the Mar. 5 G2 Dubai City of Gold also at that distance but was no match for Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) when runner-up to that still-improving King George hero. Although he would have been hard-pushed to reverse that form in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic three weeks later, Dariyan was nevertheless disappointing when only sixth but consequently was found to have an excuse for his below-par showing. Anchored in last early from his wide draw by a confident Christophe Soumillon, he nipped past several rivals on the inner at the top of the straight and after muscling his way out of a pocket struck the front passing the 300-metre marker. Pressed by Silverwave from there as the pair drew clear, he stayed on strongly to provide de Royer-Dupre and Soumillon with a fifth edition of this prestigious prize, with that tally representing a record-equalling one for his trainer. “After his first run in Dubai, which was very good, we had high hopes for the Sheema Classic but the horse developed a back problem and did not run his race,” his trainer explained. “We gave him time to come back to his best and we saw the real Dariyan today. We have always thought of him as a good horse and he had good runs last year, especially when second to New Bay. He likes a flat track and good ground like this, so will not run in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan as he hates the undulations at Chantilly. Long-term, his race will probably be the [Aug. 17] G1 Juddmonte International at York and we'll see what happens in between.” Dariyan, who was becoming the 17th individual group 1 winner for his sire, is the first foal out of Daryakana who along with the Hong Kong Vase also captured the G2 Prix de Royallieu. She is one of three black-type winners produced by the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Daryaba (Ire) (Night Shift), while the next dam is the SW & GSP Darata (Ire) (Vayrann). She is a half-sister to four black-type winners, including the group and stakes-producing pair Gentle Genius (Aus) (Danehill) and Darlinsha (Empery). Daryakana also has a 3-year-old colt named Darabad (Fr)by Dansili (GB) who was placed on his only start this year so far, a 2-year-old colt named Devamani (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) and an as-yet unnamed yearling filly by Redoute's Choice (Aus). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GANAY-G1, €300,000, SCD, 5-1, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT, 2:07.72, gd.
1–&DARIYAN (FR), 128, c, 4, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Daryakana (Fr) (G1SW-HK, GSW & G1SP-Fr, $1,372,923}, by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Daryaba (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Darata (Ire), by Vayrann (Ire)
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon. €171,420. Lifetime Record: G1SP-HK & GSP-UAE, 10-4-3-1, €707,598. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Silverwave (Fr), 128, c, 4, Silver Frost (Ire)–Miss Bio (Fr), by River Mist. (€60,000 RNA Ylg '13 AROCT; €420,000 2yo '14 ARNOV). O-HSpirit; B-Mlle Marie-Laure Collet, Jean Collet & Mme Marylene Collet (Fr); T-Pascal Bary. €68,580.
3–Garlingari (Fr), 128, g, 5, Linngari (Ire)–Garlinote (Fr), by Poliglote (GB). O/T-Corine Barande-Barbe; B-Corine Barande-Barbe & Mme J-J Massy (FR). €34,290.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.00, 16.90, 4.00.
Also Ran: Wild Chief (Ger), The Corsican (Ire), Sumbal (Ire), Air Pilot (GB), Siljan's Saga (Fr), Norse King (Fr), Ming Dynasty (Fr). Scratched: Gailo Chop (Fr).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
