Tuesday 21 January 2014
The Aga Khan Studs enjoyed a weekend rich in international honours as DANK was crowned top turf female at America’s Eclipse Awards and Dibayani took third in the Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Out of the Aga Khan broodmare Masskana (Darshaan), British-based DANK beat locally-trained rivals to be named Champion Turf Filly at the prestigious thoroughbred awards ceremony. The daughter of Dansili excelled on her two transatlantic outings during 2013, capturing both the Gr 1 Beverly D Stakes in August and the Gr 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita in November. The consistent filly is the winner of seven of her twelve races, of which five victories are at Group level.
Her dam Masskana, a three-time winner herself and daughter of Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Prix Robert Papin victrix Masarika, has proved equally as prolific in the paddocks, producing three further Stakes performers in addition to DANK. These include Gr 1 winning globetrotter Eagle Mountain and Gr 1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Sulk. Masskana was purchased by current owner James Wigan’s London Thoroughbred Services from the Aga Khan Studs for 48,000 Guineas at Tattersalls back in 1994.
In Hong Kong, the Aga Khan Studs were on the scoresheet thanks to Dibayani, third in the Classic Mile (HK Gr 1) as well as handicap winner ASHKIYR.
Four-year-old Dibayani was exported to Hong Kong last summer following his success in the Listed King George V Cup at Leopardstown. Out of dual winner Dibiya (Caerleon) from the family of Darshaan, the son of Shamardal has made an excellent start in his new surroundings as he won on his Sha Tin debut in December before finishing strongly to secure third place in the important Classic Mile on Sunday.
In the final race of this Sha Tin card, Aga Khan Studs graduate ASHKIYR swooped home in the straight to pick up the Beauty Flash Handicap over nine furlongs. The son of Rock of Gibraltar is a full brother to Listed victrix and Gr 1 fourth Ashiyla and half-brother to the talented dual purpose performer Ashkazar (Sadler’s Wells).
The Aga Khan Studs will be represented by a draft of half a dozen of lightly or unraced individuals at the forthcoming Goffs sale on 12th and 13th February in Ireland.
Updated on 21/01/2014.
