The Aga Khan

It is rare that The Aga Khan's silks are at the forefront this early in the major two-year-old contests, but when they are it is always a good sign and Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Shamreen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) showed he had the precocity to go with his illustrious pedigree in Saturday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at The Curragh. Kept fresh by Johnny Murtagh following his Naas conditions win May 7, the son of the dual G2 Blandford S. winner was held up early as the Listed First Flier S....

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features a half-brother to G1SW Dolniya. 12.05 Compiegne, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, 8fT DALMAR (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a notable newcomer, being a half-brother to the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) out of a half-sister to the brilliant Daylami (Ire) and Dalakhani (Ire). Francis-Henri...

Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), the Aga Khan's unbeaten 2008 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and the dam of last year's champion French first-season sire Zarak (Fr), will be covered by another Aga Khan superstar, Siyouni (Fr), in 2022. Zarkava has already produced the listed-winning filly Zaykava (Fr) from a mating with Siyouni, and she has a yearling colt by the French champion sire. Zarkava's listed-winning and Group 1-placed daughter Zarkamiya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) is currently in foal to Siyouni. Siyouni stands for a second consecutive season for €140,000 at...

When Aga Khan homebred Zarak (Fr) retired to stud at Haras de Bonneval in 2018, he boasted exemplary credentials: by the sire-making Dubawi (Ire), Zarak was a Group 1 winner out of the Aga Khan's great champion mare Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). Zarak did his best running at four when he won the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over 2400 metres for trainer Alain de Royer Dupre, and therefore his first 2-year-olds in 2021 could have been somewhat forgiven should they have required time. They, however, most certainly did not. Zarak...

From the mud and the murk of a storm-hit Deauville on Thursday emerged the latest TDN Rising Star as The Aga Khan's Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) strutted his stuff in the card's opening Prix de Saint-Desir for unraced juveniles. A son of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) racing for the Jean-Claude Rouget stable, the April-foaled bay was patiently ridden by Christophe Soumillon towards the rear early. Making smooth headway in the straight, the 41-10 second favourite...

Christophe Soumillon will be reunited with the Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 3. Soumillon, the Aga Khan's retained rider in France, was aboard Tarnawa for wins in last year's G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l'Opera, but was replaced last minute by Colin Keane for Tarnawa's victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland after testing positive for Covid-19. Keane was in the saddle for Tarnawa's comeback score in the G3 Ballyroan S. on Aug. 5 and for...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a daughter of G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Veda (Fr) (Dansili {GB}). 3.00 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 6 1/2fT VEDEVA (FR) (Dark Angel {Ire}) debuts for The Aga Khan and Alain de Royer-Dupre and is a daughter of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up...

    The Aga Khan's G1 Prix Vermeille, G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) takes the 2021 flat season up another level on Thursday as she sets foot on a racecourse for the first time since her brilliant success at Keeneland. Bidding to repeat last year's comeback win when handing Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 11 pounds weight-for-age in the G3 Give Thanks S. at Cork last August, the 5-year-old evades a penalty due to the conditions of the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a blueblooded daughter of American Pharoah. 10.55 La Teste de Buch, Debutantes, €14,000, 2yo, f, 5fT STEP BEYOND (American Pharoah) represents the new Niarchos Family-Philippe Sogorb link-up and is a notably early juvenile runner for her owner-breeders. A daughter of the GII Santa Ana S. winner...