Wednesday 25 November 2015
Hot on the heels of successful Aga Khan drafts at Arqana and Goffs, previous graduates have been busy recently in various fields. Over jumps, Dawalan and Baradari scored at graded level over jumps in England and America, while Aga Khan-bred dams have produced Listed winners Gale Force and Gengis.
Dawalan, an Azamour half-brother to top-class pair Dalakhani and Daylami, has quickly made an impact on the American jumps scene since arriving from England during the summer. Successful in the Gr.1 Far Hills Grand National Hurdle in October, the five-year-old grey won his second Gr. 1 title at the weekend with an impressive performance in the Colonial Cup steeplechase. He powered home five and three-quarter lengths ahead of his stablemate Rawnaq, who is out of Aga Khan-bred mare Sharemata, and is now a leading candidate for the Eclipse Award for leading steeplechaser in the USA.
In England, Baradari ran out the clear seven length winner of the Gr. 3 Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, his second graded victory after taking the Gr. 2 Holloway’s Hurdle at Ascot in January. The son of Manduro, who was bought by agent Guy Petit for 235,000 Euros at Arqana in July 2013, is a half-brother to Gr. 1 Triumph Hurdle runner-up Barizan.
Also over jumps in England, the Aga Khan-bred Zarib took third place recently on his seasonal debut in the Gr. 2 Elite Hurdle. Third in the Triumph Hurdle earlier this year, the son of Azamour has a bright future over jumps.
Aga Khan Studs broodmares have been successful recently in France, with two Listed victories in November for their progeny. Five-year-old Gengis added to his black-type collection when taking the Listed Prix Contessina at Fontainebleau. The son of King’s Best and a half-sister to Ashkalani’s had earlier won the Listed Prix Zeddaan as a juvenile and the Gr. 3 Prix de Fontainebleau at three years old. His dam Ashiyna had been purchased by Arturo Brambilla for €45,000 at Arqana in 2007.
A day later, Gale Force (Shirocco) stayed on gamely to secure the Listed Prix Denisy at
Saint-Cloud. This filly is the third black-type progeny of her dam Hannda, who had been purchased by Johnny McKeever at Goffs in 2005 and has since produced Group 1 victrix Seal Of Approval.
Updated on 25/11/2015.
