Monday 16 December 2024
2024 has been another successful year for the Aga Khan Studs stallions, and for the green and red silks of H.H. the Aga Khan.
All three established sires on the roster again sired Group 1 winners this year – with a particular highlight the victory of Metropolitan in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains providing a first Classic victory for his sire ZARAK.
SEA THE STARS finished the season as the leading sire of three-year-olds and the second leading sire by number of Stakes wins, and also continued to climb the ranks as one of the top broodmare sires in Europe. SIYOUNI was among the leading sires of milers once again, and also provided two Group 1 juveniles in the form of Mount Kilimanjaro and Zarigana, among many to look forward to next year. ZARAK maintained his reputation for excellent statistics, finishing the year second only to his own sire Dubawi by percentage of Stakes winners to runners (13.1%).
All three stallions also posted their best ever results at the yearling sales, headed by a SIYOUNI filly sold for 3.7 million guineas to Godolphin at Tattersalls Book 1.
The introduction of Champion Three-Year-Old VADENI and Group 2 winning miler EREVANN to the roster in France was also very well received, with the two new recruits covering 128 and 168 mares respectively in their first season at stud. Their first foals are eagerly anticipated next year.
On the racecourse, the Aga Khan family enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent times, spearheaded by Classic winning fillies in trained in France and Ireland - Rouhiya winning the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Ezeliya providing H.H. the Aga Khan with his first victory in the Oaks at Epsom. Both these fillies are exciting additions to the broodmare band for 2025 – and provided great pedigree updates for the buyers of their half-sisters at Arqana and Goffs in 2023!
Horses in training for next year include Royal Ascot Group 2 winner and dual Group 1 placed Calandagan and the aforementioned Group winning and Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Zarigana (SIYOUNI) – perhaps one of them might become the 100th individual Group 1 winner for H.H. the Aga Khan and Princess Zahra Aga Khan…
2024 finishes with the retirement of Georges Rimaud after 25 years at the helm of the French studs. He will be greatly missed by his colleagues, but his contribution will impact the Aga Khan Studs and thoroughbred families for generations to come. Having been assistant to Georges for the past two years, Pierre Gasnier will succeed him as manager of the studs in Normandy from January.
A new addition to the team is Charlotte Tessier, who joins the nominations team to provide cover for Fanny Cyprès. A graduate of ESSCA in Angers and a sports aficionado, Charlotte previously spent six years working for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee. Coming from a family of trotting breeders, she is no stranger to thoroughbred racing and is notably the co-breeder of recent Grade 3 winning hurdler Olympic Story.
Thank you to all the Aga Khan Studs clients for your support at the races, at the sales and in the covering barn in 2024. We wish you every success for 2025!
