Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Death of Ismaili Muslim matriarch

The widow of the late spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, Begum Om Habibeh, has died in France at the age of ninety-four.

She was the fourth and last wife of the Aga Khan the Third who died in 1957. He is the grandfather of the present Aga Khan, Prince Karim. Begum Om Habibeh was known for her interest in women's welfare and for her work for the poor and elderly, especially in and around the city of Aswan in Egypt.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

Posted: Sunday, October 04, 2009 1:53 PM

Aga Khan continues stellar weekend
on Sunday at Longchamp

by Mike Curry

The breeding and racing operations of the Aga Khan and his family collected so much hardware this weekend at Longchamp they might have to construct a new wing for the trophy collection.

French Court to Rule on Aga Khan Divorce, Lawyer SaysPARIS (Reuters) - A French court has ruled it can hear the divorce application made by top racehorse owner and breeder the Aga Khan, his office said Sunday. The Aga Khan, 66, a British citizen, is the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community of about 20 million followers.
In a Dec. 23 decision, the court said it would also rule on any financial maintenance due during the divorce proceedings, the statement quoted the Aga Khan's French lawyer Laurent Chambaz as saying.

Cup hopeful Vinnie Roe heads into quarantineOnce again, Irish trainer Dermot Weld has emerged as the key figure for next month's $4.6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington after ordering race topweight Vinnie Roe into quarantine.
Early yesterday morning Melbourne time, Vinnie Roe turned in an excellent performance to finish fifth in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris and was then sent to quarantine by Weld, who gave little indication as to where his star stayer would be heading next. 'We will see in the next 10 days or so whether we will take him back to Melbourne,' he said.

Comments: Did you know that at a race meeting yesterday at Longchamp, France, Hazar Imam's horse Dalakhani won.. Hazar Imam was there, it seemed on His own and He gave a very short interview talking about the Arc race in 3 weeks time, he said he hadn't made His mind up as to which horse would be running etc.. the jockey riding the horse yesterday was Soumillion. Hazar Imam looked happy, wearing a navy suit and was pleased to accept the trophy. Don't have a recording of the race as it caught me on the hop.

Dalakhani delivers with dynamite performance in French DerbyThe Aga Khan's unbeaten Dalakhani reigned supreme once again as he thundered down the stretch to capture his sixth straight victory in the $1.3-million Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1) at Chantilly on Sunday. The son of Darshaan scored by an impressive two lengths over Group 2 winner Super Celebre.

Dalakhani's sharp performance only enhanced the confidence that the Aga Khan had in his homebred.

Day two from LongchampsDalakhani justified his status as pre-race favourite, powering home in a thrilling fast finish to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
The French Derby winner - ridden by Christophe Soumillon - had to come in from stall 14, wide out on the right, and held off a brave challenge from Mubtaker.
Ireland's High Chaparral finished third in the 13-horse race for the second year in a row.
'It's a race I wanted to win throughout my apprenticeship and it's unbelievable to ride a horse like him,' said 20-year-old Soumillon.

One of France's most stunning chateaux, which houses the country's second most important art collection, is to be rescued from falling into disrepair thanks to a helping hand from its neighbour, the Aga Khan.Annick Benoist reports.
The Chantilly chateau: once playground of French kings, now for kings of footie The magnificent chateau houses 6,000 works of art including three Raphael works

Dalakhani looked a horse apart as he glided across the soft ground on the way to post for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe here yesterday, and he was better
still on the way back. Christophe Soumillon, his jockey, condensed his performance in Europe's finest race into just five words: 'Il est un champion veritable.' The only dispute is Soumillon's use of the present tense. Dalakhani has almost certainly run his last race, but at least the memory of his curtain call will endure until his first crop of two-year-olds reaches the track in 2007.

Aiglemont is bathed in sunshine, although heavy overnight rain has brought a reminder: the Arc encourages October's capricious nature.

Belgian Jockey Christophe Soumillon (R), horse trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre (C) and the Aga Khan hold their trophies after their horse Dalakhani won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps horse track, near Paris, October 5, 2003. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a group one race for three-year-old and upwards colts and fillies, run over one and a half mile (2.4 km). REUTERS/Philippe WojazerThe Aga Khan's Dalakhani ridden by Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon is first past the post at Longchamp, to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, ahead of 25-1 outsider Mubtakerl.(AFP/Daniel Janin)

Un milliard de télespectateurs assistent à la victoire de DalakhaniDalakhani a remporté hier le 82e Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe sur l'hippodrome de Longchamp.
Cette course hippique de renommée internationale, véritable finale du championnat du monde de galop des pur-sang, réunissait les plus grands cracks de la planète montés par les meilleurs jockeys du monde sur une distance de 2 400 mètres.

Dalakhani recorded a famous success in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere at Longchamp.
The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained colt had to dig very deep to fight off the brave challenge of Marcus Tregoning's Mubtaker. Aidan O'Brien's High Chaparral finished well back in third for the second successive year, with Doyen fourth. Christophe Soumillon raced towards the back of the field on the 9-4 second favourite in the early stages from his high draw.

President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday held useful discussion with French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on all matters of international and regional importance. In a cordial and friendly manner, they discussed modalities of implementing the decisions taken on Wednesday during President Musharraf's prolonged meeting with his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac.

Une Fondation pour la sauvegarde et le développement du domaine de Chantilly, joyau du patrimoine français
La Fondation créé par l' Aga Kha se propose de restaurer le château, les grandes écuries et les différents bâtiments, le parc et ses jardins ainsi que le réseau hydrographique inclus dans son périmètre et réaliser les aménagements nécessaires pour améliorer l'accueil et l'information du public.

French Derby winner Dalakhani is once again the toast of Paris with his stirring performance in winning the 2003 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Longchamp Sunday.Ridden by Christophe Soumillon for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, the Aga Khan Irish hombred 3-year-old son of Darshaan was sent off as the 5-2 choice at Longchamp. Winning at Longchamp for the fifth time in as many starts, Dalkhani defeated 33-1 Mubtaker by three quarters of a length in a time of 2:32 for the 1 1/2-mile classic on heavy going. Second choice High Chaparral, last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (gr.

THE SUPERLATIVES were not misplaced. Dalakhani, a colt variously described as 'a genius' and 'truly exceptional', lived up to the praise to leave his mark on Europe's biggest championship race on Sunday. To his connections the perfect embodiment of a racehorse, he lifted Longchamp with a performance that confirmed his right to the mantle of equine superstar. Late doubts about soft ground and a wide draw dissolved as Dalakhani won with something in hand.

Dalakhani maintained his 100 per cent record with a smooth victory in the Prix Lupin at Longchamp.The Aga Khan colt, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, came through with a perfectly-timed run inside the final furlong to beat another French-trained colt, Super Celebre, with Aidan O'Brien's Alberto Giacometti third.Pacemaker Balestrini was pushed into the lead of this Group One race after a few strides, followed by Dalakhani's stable companion Diyapour.

The Aga Khan's Dalakhani, ridden by Christophe Soumillon won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, at Longchamp.
The 9-4 second favorite, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, swept a length clear of 25-1 shot Mubtaker, with 13-8 market leader High Chaparral coming third for the second year running.

Dalakhani, the French Derby winner, needed all his noted speed and stamina to overcome a poor draw and desperately soft ground to add the Arc to his earlier success.

Soumillon, 22-year-old Belgian, was given a tremendous reception by the 40,000-crowd, and reached the unsaddling enclosure in tears.

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, said in a French newspaper interview on Wednesday that the United Nations should steer the reconstruction of a pluralist civil society in Afghanistan.
As head of a disparate Ismaili community of about 15 million people, including followers in Afghanistan, the Aga Khan said Muslims and non-Muslims should work together to rebuild the country if the ruling Taliban government tumbles.