Tuesday 2 April 2024
The success of Aga Khan graduates worldwide was further boosted on Saturday (30th March) with the victories of KALAPOUR and Tower Of London in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes and Gr.2 Dubai Gold Cup respectively.
KALAPOUR, who was previously trained in Ireland and sold privately by the Aga Khan Studs in 2021, battled hard to land the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill for trainer Kris Lees and jockey Dylan Gibbons. It was the biggest victory to date for the seven-year-old son of War Command, who was already a dual Group 3 winner and also placed third in last year’s Gr.1 Metropolitan. He may now head to the Gr.1 Sydney Cup.
On the same card at Rosehill, fellow Aga Khan graduate Zeyrek finished a close second in the Gr.3 Neville Sellwood Stakes, a race he won in 2023.
At Meydan meanwhile, Tower Of London shone the spotlight on mares bred and sold by The Aga Khan Studs by winning the Gr.2 Dubai Gold Cup by two lengths, one month after scoring in the Gr.3 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh. He is one of four Group winners for DIALAFARA, who was sold at the 2010 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale and whose offspring also include Classic hero Capri.
Jockey Ryan Moore said: “He was better again again. The pace slackened up down the back [straight] and I had to move him forward, but he quickened up very well. He was impressive.”
Trainer Aidan O'Brien added: “He's an Ascot-type horse, he could go for the Hardwicke – or something like the Coronation Cup. Ryan was very adamant he doesn't need to go two miles. I don't think Ryan thought he'd get the Gold Cup trip. He's classy.”
