Friday 24 July 2020
The famous green and red colours of H.H. the Aga Khan have been in prolific form recently, with a series of victories in France and Ireland. The beautifully bred pair VALIA and DARIYMA provided the highlights with Listed victories at ParisLongchamp and Chantilly and represent high hopes for the future.
By Sea The Stars and out of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches second Veda (Dansili), VALIA stepped up in class with ease on just her second career outing in the Listed Prix de Thiberville at ParisLongchamp. Under a hands and heels ride from Gérald Mossé, the three-year-old filly stretched away from her rivals to score by two and a half lengths. Following the success, satisfied trainer Alain de Royer Dupré commented to Equidia, "Gérald Mossé respected the filly today. She made her move very easily and is a filly with both stamina and a turn of foot, which she is capable of extending. With a filly of this calibre, we must now think about the Prix Vermeille as a target."
Unbeaten in two races, the highly progressive VALIA also holds an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The filly boasts an exceptional maternal line, and is a relative to Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary heroines Vazira, also by Sea The Stars, and Vadawina (Unfuwain), from the family of Valixir.
On the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan card at Chantilly on Sunday, DARIYMA earned a well-deserved first black-type win in the Listed Prix de la Pépinière. A dual winner at three years old and runner up in the Listed Prix Solitude at Saint Cloud last November, the lightly raced filly made all under Christophe Soumillon to win the 2100m contest unextended by three lengths. A daughter of City Zip, DARIYMA is out of winning mare Darma (Danehill Dancer), who is a half-sister to Prix du Jockey Club hero Darsi.
In addition to these prestigious victories, the Aga Khan Studs have also enjoyed success in recent days with French juveniles Makaloun (Bated Breath), winner of both outings to date, and Atsana (Oasis Dream) who opened her account at La Teste; while three-year-old Sea The Stars gelding Sheraz, out of Group 3 victrix Shemiyla (Dalakhani) won his maiden at Dieppe. Three more victories came in Ireland, thanks to maiden winners TASALKA (Lope De Vega) and Ebendi (Le Havre), a son of dual Group 1 scorer Ebalista, and stylish handicap scorer HAPARANDA (Rock Of Gibraltar) who is a daughter of a half-sister to dual Derby winner and sire Harzand.
Updated on 24/07/2020.
