Monday 11 September 2017
The Aga Khan Studs celebrated a four-timer across Europe this weekend, while SEA THE STARS was represented by his 45th Stakes winner.
In France, two stayers provided the Group victories, with VAZIRABAD registering a second successive win in the Gr.3 Prix Gladiateur at Chantilly and the progressive DARBUZAN successful in the Gr.3 Prix de Lutèce at Saint-Cloud. Dual Group 1 hero VAZIRABAD was making his return to action after a summer break and the five-year-old son of Manduro looked as good as ever when coming with his trademark late run to secure a 12th career win and a 10th Group victory. Alain de Royer Dupré’s charge will now be stepped back up to top-level company, with the Gr.1 Prix du Cadran and Gr.1 Prix Royal-Oak likely autumn targets. DARBUZAN had earlier kicked off the weekend in fine fashion for the Aga Khan Studs when winning his third consecutive race in the 3000 metre Gr.3 Prix de Lutèce. Trained by Mikel Delzangles, Princess Zahra Aga Khan’s son of Zamindar is out of a half-sister to star miler Darjina, from the versatile family of Almanzor. Already winner of the Listed Prix Michel Houyvet at Deauville, DARBUZAN confirmed his position as the top stayer of his generation in France and could now be aimed for the Gr.2 Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend.
Irish Champions Weekend saw a brace of successes for His Highness the Aga Khan’s colours, thanks to the Dermot Weld trained fillies EZIYRA and SHAMREEN. On Saturday at Leopardstown, EZIYRA recorded her third Group win when staying on well to lift the Gr.3 Enterprise Stakes. Third in the Irish Oaks in July (behind Enable), this daughter of Teofilo, closely related to the famous Group 1 winning quartet Enzeli, Estimate, Ebadiyla and Edabiya, will now be aimed at the Gr.1 Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot. On Sunday at the Curragh, SHAMREEN successfully gained back-to-back wins, with a front-running display, in the Gr.2 Blandford Stakes. By Dubawi out of Group 3 winner Shareen, SHAMREEN will now be prepared for the Gr.1 Prix de l’Opera on 1st October.
Aga Khan Studs stallions also enjoyed a share of glory, as SEA THE STARS’ son Chemical Charge ran on strongly to score in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton. This consistent five-year-old has only finished out of the first three in one of his 13 outings and has been placed in Stakes company on several occasions. He is the 45th individual Stakes winner for his Gilltown Stud sire SEA THE STARS.
Updated on 11/09/2017.
