Monday 1 July 2024
The Aga Khan Studs has been enjoying a fruitful 2024 season, including two Classic victories with Rouhiya and Ezeliya and a Royal Ascot Group 2 success thanks to Calandagan.
The run of form continued last week, with five winners in five days including HANALIA in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial and SHADIZI in the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick.
HANALIA won her second consecutive race in three outings to take the Oaks Trial on Wednesday, becoming a new Stakes winner for SEA THE STARS. Trainer Johnny Murtagh said: “She always showed us plenty, she was one of the ones we really liked and were looking forward to her this year. Her form has worked out with the second horse (from the Curragh) winning pretty well at Down Royal last week and we were coming here confident.
“She's not big but has a good turn of foot and it worked out very well today.”
On Saturday, SHADIZI posted a new Stakes success for his sire SIYOUNI, picking up well to win his fourth race, the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick at Chantilly.
“He’s a true good-ground colt,” commented trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “It took him a little while to get going, but finally he was able to show his speed and pull away from his competitors. If the ground is good, we should see him again in the Gr.3 Prix Daphnis.”
Also in France, MANDALAY won well on debut at Clairefontaine on Friday in the colours of Princess Zahra Aga Khan, while in Ireland SHARINAY won his second race of 2024 at The Curragh on Sunday.
At the same track the day previously, Princess Zahra was on hand to enjoy the Aga Khan Stud’s first two-year-old winner of 2024. HAZDANN, by Night Of Thunder out of Hazmiyra, battled hard to land the first race, the maiden won by Derby winner City Of Troy last year. The colt is from the same family as the aforementioned HANALIA, the pair of them related to a host of Group 1 winners including Harzand, Big Rock, Hurricane Lane and Emily Upjohn.
Trained Dermot Weld said: “He just got no run in Gowran [on debut], but he came home very well that day. He's a lovely colt, a very genuine colt. Obviously, we'll look at a Stakes race with him next. We'll hasten slowly with him. You'll find he continues to progress as the year goes on. He's from the Harzand family, so there is a nice bit of toughness there as well. It's a very important winner with the Princess [Zahra] here to see it.”
