CURRENT STARS

The son of Gleneagles made his juvenile debut at Deauville in August, finishing third to promising Zarak colt Metropolitan despite racing wide around the track. He next start was a winning one, and an impressive one at that, as he scored by 10 lengths at Chantilly.

Calandagan returned to action in March 2024 in the Listed Prix François Mathet at Saint-Cloud, collecting his first piece of blacktype in a close-fought battle with the winner Bright Picture, the pair of them stretching clear of the field.

The following month, Calandagan made a successful reversal of form with Bright Picture, defeating him in the Gr.3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp for his first success at Stakes level. It was quickly followed up by another Group 3 win, this time in the Prix Hocquart, which set the progressive gelding up for a trip to Royal Ascot.

Calandagan fully justified his trip across the Channel, routing his rivals for a six-length win in the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes, which provided France with their first victory of the 2024 Royal meeting.

“He is a fantastic horse–today he was perfect,” said jockey Stéphane Pasquier. “The pace was fast enough to come from behind and everything was easy. He can be a naughty boy sometimes and we have to ask him nicely, but today he wanted to do it all and when he is like this, he is a fantastic horse. I didn't do anything, I just asked him to do it by himself.”

Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who accepted the trophy on behalf of her father, added: “He has been improving over the last few months, but today he surprised all of us and has shown himself to be a very good horse. It is not one of our oldest families, but is a very consistent family. They tend to be a mile-and-a-half horses, but he has a turn of foot that is wonderful to see.”

Calandagan returned to England in August for his first try at top level, heading to York for the Gr.1 International Stakes. Coming wide around the final turn, Calandagan kept on well in his attempt to run down the favourite, Derby winner City Of Troy. In the end, he finished second by a length, the first two home breaking the track record set by Sea The Stars in 2009.

“It was a fantastic run. They jumped very fast and then they took a pull and that didn’t suit us, as we found ourselves quite far from the lead,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.

“He tried my horse, the way he quickened in the straight, it was fantastic to watch. I shouted as I was thinking we were coming to get him (City Of Troy), but he kept pushing and he is a champion.

“I’m very proud of our horse. It is the first time he has run in a Group 1 and we didn’t have any Group 1 form before, so there were still a lot of question marks – but the way he accelerated in the straight was fantastic and he is a very good horse.”

She made two starts as a two-year-old, winning her second race at Cork despite dwelling at the start. 

On her three-year-old debut, she registered a first black type success in the Gr.3 Salsabil Stakes, swooping late and entering the frame for The Oaks at Epsom.

“I thought she would run a big race and she did,” said trainer Dermot Weld said. “It was a very true-run Group race and they went a real good gallop for a mile-and-a-quarter. Chris [Hayes - jockey] took his time on her. He planned to sit a little bit closer, but the pace they were going he waited. I loved the way she attacked the hill and saw her race out well. Better ground will suit her better. It is a lovely family, a good, tough family and I think she will get a mile-and-a-half. She is a Group 1 filly and there's lots to look forward to. She is in both [the Oaks and Irish Oaks] and we will review it and see.”

Ezeliya duly lined up for the Oaks at Epsom. Positioned mid-pack by jockey Chris Hayes, the filly slipped comfortably into the lead at the entrance of the straight to win by three lengths. She became a first winner of the race for H.H. the Aga Khan, and the 99th individual Group 1 winner for His Highness and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.

Trainer Dermot Weld said after the race: 'She's a beautiful filly to train. She's not a big filly, but has a lot of quality and these races are all special.”

By Sea The Stars (sire of the aforementioned Harzand and Emily Upjohn and broodmare sire of Big Rock), Hanalia made her racecourse debut as a three-year-old, placing fourth at Gowran Park. Two-and-a-half weeks later, she broke her maiden at The Curragh, and the following month scored her first piece of blacktype in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial. 

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.”

He made an early debut as a two-year-old in 2023, breaking his maiden by an easy two and a half lengths in mid-April. On his next start, he finished a close second, before being put away for the following season.

Keran made another successful seasonal debut in a Class 2 at Cagnes in February 2024, extending his winning margin to four and a half lengths, before landing his first bit of blacktype when second on heavy ground in the Gr.3 Prix Djebel at Deauville.

Despite being a big, galloping colt, Sibayan showed precocity as a two-year-old, winning twice and placing once in three outings.

He made a winning seasonal debut early the following season, and after a respectable fifth place finish behind Calandagan in the Gr.3 Prix Noialles in April, he landed his first Stakes success in the Listed Derby du Midi not long after.

Simada, a daughter of the late Le Havre, was unplaced on her only start at two in December 2023, but it didn’t take long to get to winning ways. She became the first winner of 2024 for The Aga Khan Studs on 3^rd January, and followed up with another victory before the month was out.

Stepped up to Stakes company next time out, she then finished second in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. 

Sumiha raced just once as a three-year-old, but the run was a winning one, where she beat the odds-on favourite to land a maiden at The Curragh.

Returning the following spring, she was pitched straight into Stakes company,  and finished runner-up in both the Listed Noblesse Stakes and the Listed Orby Stakes. On her next start, she was upped to Group level, where she ran on well to win the Munster Oaks at Cork.

Zabiari made an impressive winning two-year-old debut in May 2023 at ParisLongchamp, and was subsequently sent straight to Stakes company at Deauville. He placed a close second in both the Prix Roland de Chambure (to the more experienced and subsequent Group winner Beauvatier) and the Critérium du Fonds Européen de l'Elevage (a race won by subsequent Champion Three-Year-Old Vadeni in 2021), before stepping up to a mile in the Gr.3 Prix de Chênes.

He won Group 3 contest in good style, defeating two other Stakes horses and suggesting that he could be a Group 1 colt in the making.

ZARIGANA made a highly promising start with a four length-victory in the Prix de la Butte Blanche at Chantilly in July. She confirmed her potential on her second outing and first attempt at Stakes level with an impressive three length victory at ParisLongchamp.

Her trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said on this occastion: “I loved how she travelled on that [soft] ground and, when Mickael [Barzalona] switched her out, she did it all on her own. It was really nice to watch, she is a lovely looking filly with a great temperament and the only question is would she have another gear if asked for more. Of course, if she comes out of this race well, she will come back in the Marcel Boussac. She is all class and, hopefully, we will have a nice Classic prospect for next year.”

Her pedigree is steeped in quality, as she is the daughter of SIYOUNI, a Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère winner, and the granddaughter of the unbeaten champion ZARKAVA, who claimed the Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac and the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Her dam, Zarkamiya, was a Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 placed during her racing career, and she is a sister to Zarak. She is back in foal to SIYOUNI this year.