Aga Khan Studs

KILLENARD, Ireland--The trick to living a mostly happy life is to spend as much time as possible doing what you love. Simple, right? That's not to say that people in the bloodstock industry don't work incredibly hard. There is no real let-up in the work either, with almost wall-to-wall sales these days, foals on the way, mares to be covered, mud to be scraped off almost everything and, some mornings, ice to be broken on water troughs and buckets.  But it's a wonderful life nonetheless, and every now and then...

Over 700 individuals from 42 countries on six continents registered to attend the International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation's (ITBF) third annual webinar held this past Thursday. Some of the highlights from the webinar include "Aga Khan Studs - A Centenary of Success" presented by legendary journalist, author and television racing presenter Brough Scott MBE. Scott was joined by French Studs manager Georges Rimaud, who answered a variety of questions submitted by attendees from all over the world. ITBF's Vice Chairman, Dr. Des Leadon, then introduced Professor Anne Couroucé of Nantes University,...

The film Aga Khan Studs--A Centenary of Success will be streamed as part of the annual global webinar of the International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation (ITBF) at noon on Jan. 19. The film celebrates the Aga Khan's breeding and racing achievements over the past 100 years. Presented by journalist, author and television broadcaster, Brough Scott, the presentation examines the involvement of the Aga Khan Royal Family over four generations. Attendees can then take part in a live Q&A session with Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan Studs' French manager. A veterinary section...

Eight stallion shares and five breeding rights were offered at the Arqana Online Sale Tuesday, and leading the fray was a share in the Aga Khan stallion Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), which realized top price of €460,000. Secured by Marius Cypres, the share was one of two purchased by the Bridge Consignment, who also went to €56,000 for a share in the Haras d'Etreham sire Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). "We're very happy," said Cyprès. "To be able to invest in a share in Zarak is a unique opportunity. He's...

The Aga Khan Studs' stallions Sea The Stars (Ire), Siyouni (Fr) and Zarak (Fr) are all set to stand for increased fees in 2023. Heading a powerful roster, Sea The Stars, sire of the brilliant Baaeed (GB) and Stradivarius (Ire), will cover at an all-time high of €180,000 at Gilltown Stud. Currently third in the sires' table behind Dubawi (Ire) and Frankel (GB), Sea The Stars is the sire of 19 Group 1 winners among his 101 stakes winners. His rising number of sons at stud include the aforementioned duo,...

Newcastle's Monday card featured the It's Time To Turn To Talksport Novice S., a juvenile novices' heat annexed in 2020 by Godolphin's subsequent dual Group 1 winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and this year's renewal has yielded another capable of striking at a higher level after Imad Al Sagar's 2-year-old colt Intinso (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Rose Of Miracles {GB}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), a homebred John and Thady Gosden trainee, powered to an impressive 3 1/4-length debut victory and a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette. The well-backed 1-2 favourite settled under cover...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) failed to land a telling blow over seven furlongs at Ascot in his Sept. 2 debut last time, but made light work of Thursday's Bill Hanlon Memorial Irish EBF Maiden over the same distance at the Curragh to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' with a taking five-length breakthrough at the Co. Kildare venue. Having already made a splash as the joint-second highest-priced lot when realising €420,000 at last year's Arqana October sale, the 16-5 favourite broke smartly and...

Christophe Soumillon, who was banned from race-riding for two months for causing Rossa Ryan to be unseated from his mount mid-race at Saint-Cloud, will no longer be the retained jockey for the Aga Khan Studs. An announcement released by the operation on Tuesday morning read, "Following last Friday's incident at Saint-Cloud, which resulted in the fall of Rossa Ryan, the Aga Khan Studs have taken the decision to cease their retainer with jockey Christophe Soumillon with immediate effect. "From this week onwards, Soumillon may still ride in the Aga Khan...

Bouncing back off a fourth in June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, Al Shaqab's homebred 3-year-old colt Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Jadhaba {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) was all heart and regained the winning thread in Monday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville. The January-foaled bay closed his two-race juvenile campaign with a breakthrough success at Chantilly and doubled his win tally back there on seasonal return before earning his black-type stripes contesting the May 3 Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly in his penultimate start. The even-money favourite...

The Aga Khan's homebred dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Hazariya {Ire}, by Xaar {GB}) has been sold to continue his stallion career in Ireland at Kilbarry Lodge Stud. Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, Harzand overcame a last-minute foot injury scare to win the 2016 G1 Derby to give his owner-breeder a fifth triumph in the Epsom Classic following Shergar (GB), Shahrastani, Kahyasi (Ire) and Sinndar (Ire). He then followed up with victory in the G1 Irish Derby. Among Harzand's Flat runners this season...

This season we appear to have been gifted an above average crop of 3-year-olds, along with some truly exciting older horses who have remained in training. It is as it should be, but things don't always work out that way.  France and England exchanged Group 1 races at the weekend: on Saturday it was a case of veni, vidi, vici for Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), who gave France a first victory in the race since 1960, when it was won by the Percy Carter-trained Javelot (Fr) (Fast Fox {Fr}). The...

The Queen's 2023 G1 Derby entry Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars (Ire)--Desert Breeze {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) brushed aside early aggravation in Thursday's Tuffx Glass EBF Novice S. at Haydock and closed out the seven-furlong contest with panache to earn 'TDN Rising Stardom' for the relentless William Haggas stable. The 4-1 third choice engaged in light scrimmaging at the break and was detached from the leaders in seventh until easing closer in the straight. Shaken up when moving into contention approaching the quarter-mile marker, he quickened smartly to gain...