Monday 17 May 2021
The Aga Khan Studs flagship sires SIYOUNI and SEA THE STARS were once again in the headlines over the weekend, with another Classic victory for the former, and an exciting European Stakes double for the latter. SAGAMIYRA opened her Pattern account with a win in the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber, and Dary Ci became the latest Black-type performer for her young sire Dariyan.
Champion European Juvenile last season, SIYOUNI’s son St Mark’s Basilica became his sire’s newest Classic scorer on Sunday with an impressive performance to win the Poule d’Essai des Poulains on his seasonal debut. Ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team, St Mark’s Basilica raced in the second part of the field in the early stages of the race, but once he entered the straight he responded well to the urgings of his rider and produced a devastating turn of foot in the final furlong. Prior to the Classic, Aidan O’Brien had evoked a likely tilt at the Prix du Jockey-Club for St Mark’s Basilica, and Ioritz Mendizabal declared after the race that the colt would be even better over the 2100m distance at Chantilly. Haras de Bonneval sire SIYOUNI has already sired one Prix du Jockey-Club winner in Sottsass, who went on to lift the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the following season.
Not to be outdone, Gilltown Stud stallion SEA THE STARS enjoyed a pair of Stakes successes with some highly promising individuals. At Newbury, the lightly raced four-year-old Al Aasy produced an exceptional performance to win his fourth race, and his third Group title, in the Al Rayyan Stakes. Following this four-length success, Al Aasy will now be aimed by William Haggas towards the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on 4th June. Bred by Sunderland Holdings out of Shamardal mare Kitcara, Al Aasy carries the Shadwell colours.
At ParisLongchamp, SEA THE STARS’ daughter Burgarita displayed Classic potential when remaining unbeaten in her second outing with a smooth and impressive win in the Listed Prix de la Seine. Beautifully bred, Burgarita hails from the family of Aquarelliste, Agathe and Arcangues. The André Fabre trainee is entered in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on 20th June.
Also in the Prix de la Seine, the consistent filly Dary Ci, from the first crop of Dariyan, stayed on gamely to take third place and become the latest Black-type performer for her young sire.
HH Aga Khan’s colours shone at ParisLongchamp thanks to the very progressive SAGAMIYRA who lifted the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber, her fifth consecutive victory. The four-year-old daughter of Sea The Moon and Saghaniya, from the family of Sagamix has risen through the provincial and handicap ranks and is now set for another step up in class with the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes cited as a likely target by trainer Mikel Delzangles.
