The late Kahyasi was already a proven sire from his Irish base at Gilltown Stud when he was transferred to the newly-reopened Bonneval in 2001. With two Prix de Diane heroines, Zainta and Vereva, to his name, it was logical for the dual Derby winner to relaunch the Aga Khan Studs stallion activity in Normandy. The versatile sire regrettably succumbed to a cancerous tumour in 2008 but his influence remains particularly strong as an excellent broodmare sire, most notably of champion filly Zarkava, and as sire of Juddmonte Farms’ matriarch Hasili.
As Kahyasi moved to France, his place at Gilltown Stud was taken by another dual Derby winner, Sinndar, who also lifted the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe during his exceptional racing career. From his first crop, Sinndar sired double Group 1 victrix Shawanda and has continued to produce top-class performers in all categories, from juvenile Group 1 winner Rosanara to the tough Youmzain, now a stallion himself. Like Kahyasi, Sinndar, who moved to the Haras de Bonneval in 2006, is now recognised as a highly effective broodmare sire following the Classic victories in 2013 of Trading Leather in the Irish Derby and Flotilla in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
A Group 1 winner at two followed by Prix du Jockey Club and Arc de Triomphe victories at three, Dalakhani represents one of the Aga Khan Studs top families. The son of Darshaan retired to Gilltown Stud in 2004 and celebrated two Classic successes from his first generation on the track, with Moonstone taking the Irish Oaks and Conduit the St Leger before going on to win a pair of Breeders’ Cup Turfs and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Classic titles have continued to flow thanks to Reliable Man (Prix du Jockey Club) and Duncan (Irish St Leger) as well as countless other Group winners. Dalakhani’s influence is set to extend to the Southen Hemisphere as the leading sire was shuttled to Cornerstone Stud in Australia for the first time in 2013 and will make a return trip in 2014.
Top class over a mile to a mile and half on the racecourse, Azamour has left his imprint upon the Aga Khan Studs during his too-short breeding career. The four-time Group 1 scorer was unfortunately euthanised in 2014 after sustaining a serious injury in his stable. His progeny from nine seasons at stud feature Prix de Diane heroine Valyra and many more Stakes performers continue to rise through the ranks.
