Qurrat-Al-Ain

Family 5e

1927 b. f. Buchan - Harpsichord (Louvois)

Qurrat-Al-Ain was one of the original yearling purchases made by George Lambton on behalf of the Aga Khan III, acquired for 13,000gns from James Maher, a leading breeder of his time at Confey Stud near Dublin. The sum was not far off the record price for a filly at auction but like Mumtaz Mahal and Teresina she justified that investment many times over, firstly as winner of the 1929 Queen Mary and 1930 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Her victory in the latter showpiece followed that of Blenheim in the Derby and ahead of Rustom Pasha’s victories in the Eclipse and Champion Stakes, all of which helped the Aga Khan to end 1930 as leading owner.

In due course, Qurrat-Al-Ain foaled two Classic winners in Queen Of Shiraz, winner of the 1940 Irish Oaks, and Majideh, a daughter of Mahmoud who was regarded as the best filly of her year in Ireland by virtue of her victories in the 1942 Irish 1000 Guineas and Oaks. Majideh’s daughter Masaka emulated her dam’s dual Classic achievement, in her case by pulling off the 1948 Epsom and Irish Oaks double, and it is via that line that the Qurrat-Al-Ain family remains present at the Aga Khan Studs today. In the intervening years, it has provided the operation with many highlights ranging from the 1988 Epsom and Irish Derby hero Kahyasi to champion miler Silver Shark and Irish St Leger winner Kastoria. St Leger winner Milan, Irish Derby winner Law Society and Irish Oaks heroine Key Change are among its other European celebrities. 

Its influence also spread in a major way to America where Majideh’s son Gallant Man - inbred 3x3 to Mumtaz Mahal’s daughter Mah Mahal - was one of the major runners of the 1950s, his six Grade 1 wins led by the 1957 Belmont Stakes. Gallant Man, who had been selected as a yearling by Humphrey S. Finney out of a field at the Aga Khan Studs in Ireland as part of a package on behalf of Ralph Lowe, later became a leading sire at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.