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The Aga Khan’s family has been racing and breeding thoroughbreds at the highest level for 102 years and Ireland has played a big part in that success story.

Last weekend, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) acknowledged the Aga Khan’s contribution to the sport here by inducting the owner-breeder into the AIRO Hall of Fame.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan accepted the AIRO Hall of Fame on behalf of her father His Highness The Aga Khan for his contribution to the sport in Ireland

THE top lot in Tuesday’s Goffs Autumn Horses in Training Sale is heading to the Middle East.

Ridhaz, a three-year-old gelded son of Iffraaj, sold for €220,000 to Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland. A dual winner, he recently added a Dundalk handicap victory to his maiden win at Leopardstown in May, and was trained by Michael Halford and Tracey Collins for the Aga Khan.

Donohoe faced stiff competition for the own-brother to Riyazan, winner of more than £1 million in a career that yielded seven victories.

Dermot Weld’s Azada achieved Listed success when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Garnet Stakes at Naas.

The Siyouni three-year-old, who is owned and was bred by the Aga Khan, was sixth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas earlier in the term and fifth at Group Three level last time out at Gowran Park.

Ridden by Chris Hayes as a 9-2 shot in the one-mile Garnet Stakes, the bay was always prominent in a field of 16 and comfortably took up the lead furlongs from home to stride to a two-length success.

“It was important that she won that race,” said Weld.

Dermot Weld’s Azada achieved Listed success when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Garnet Stakes at Naas.

The Siyouni three-year-old, who is owned and was bred by the Aga Khan, was sixth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas earlier in the term and fifth at Group Three level last time out at Gowran Park.

Ridden by Chris Hayes as a 9-2 shot in the one-mile Garnet Stakes, the bay was always prominent in a field of 16 and comfortably took up the lead furlongs from home to stride to a two-length success.

“It was important that she won that race,” said Weld.

Chantilly's card on Monday featured some promising juveniles and none more so than the Aga Khan's filly Rayevka (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Rayisa {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) lit up the six-furlong fillies' conditions event with a scintillating display to become her sire's fourth TDN Rising Star. Narrowly denied on debut by Juddmonte's Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at Deauville last month, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained homebred was in command from the outset strong in the hands of Maxime Guyon.

Local trainer Johnny Murtagh won the Group 2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes for the second time as a trainer with Hanalia, having saddled Belle De Crecy to score in 2013 in his first season with a licence.

He was in the plate himself on that occasion but this time around, it was Shane Foley that was on board The Aga Khan daughter of Sea The Stars, with stable jockey Ben Coen recuperating from surgery on a broken collarbone suffered at Naas eight days ago.

Aga Khan's Hanalia won the Group 2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes with jockey Shane Foley

The Aga Khan's Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with a stunning performance over seven furlongs at Chantilly in July and duly delivered a first black-type triumph with a display reminiscent of the owner's star distaffer in Thursday's G3 Prix d'Aumale at ParisLongchamp.

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced 2-year-old-filly Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, produced a stunning performance in Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche over seven furlongs at Chantilly and emulated her illustrious second dam by securing 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut.

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced 2-year-old-filly Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, produced a stunning performance in Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche over seven furlongs at Chantilly and emulated her illustrious second dam by securing 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut.

Brilliant performance from #Calandagan who won the Gr.2 King Edward VII Stakes by 6l @Ascot, ahead of #SeaTheStars’ son Space Legend.

Calandagan has now won 3 consecutive Group races in 3 months. He’s the 2nd foal o/o Gr.3 placed #Calayana (#Sinndar), from the family of Clodovil

Calandagan dominated the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2400m) on Friday, becoming the first French-trained winner at Royal Ascot since Watch Me in the 2019 Coronation Stakes.

It was lovely to see Princess Zahra Aga Khan at the Curragh today to watch Hazdann win the opening maiden.

Princess Zahra also reflects upon what has so far been a wonderful season for Aga Khan Studs

Hazdann
put his previous experience to good use as he ran out a game winner of the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the
Curragh
.
Derby hero City Of Troy made a winning racecourse bow in the seven-furlong heat last year and much of the attention was centred on his fellow Aidan O’Brien-trained runner Rock Of Cashel on his first trip to the track.

A Wootton Bassett half-brother to Snowfall, Rock Of Cashel was sent off the 7-4 favourite under Ryan Moore but never really looked like taking a hand in the finish, coming home eighth behind 10-1 Hazdann.

Calandagan dominated the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2400m) on Friday, becoming the first French-trained winner at Royal Ascot since Watch Me in the 2019 Coronation Stakes.

Like Watch Me, Calandagan was sent over by Francis-Henri Graffard, who trains the son of Gleneagles for his owner/breeder HH The Aga Khan.

With an outside draw in 13, Stephane Pasquier rode a quiet race on Calandagan. The partnership came wide in the straight and powered away to win by six lengths, with Space Legend and Royal Supremacy filling the places.

Aga Khan Studs have been having an outstanding year with their homebreds and produced a new stakes-winner overnight when lightly raced Sea the Stars filly Hanalia scored a stylish victory in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial (1m2 ½ f).

Aga Khan Studs have been having an outstanding year with their homebreds and produced a new stakes-winner overnight when lightly raced Sea the Stars filly Hanalia scored a stylish victory in the Listed Naas Oaks Trial (1m2 ½ f).

Having just her third race start, the Johnny Murtagh trained filly was fourth on debut last month before breaking her maiden at the Curragh and took a big step forward here beating a couple of fillies heading towards the Irish Oaks including the big flashy Justify filly Greenfinch in third place.

The daughter of billionaire Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, joined the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in another carriage. And Princess Margaret's children, the Earl of Snowden and Lady Sarah Chatto, also joined the royal procession.

The King and Queen are set to present trophies to the winners in the feature race of the week, the Gold Cup. The couple, who took on Queen Elizabeth II’s racing horses, have a thoroughbred entered in the King George V Stakes and will be hoping for their first Royal Ascot win of 2024.

Princess Zahra was in the second carriage with The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Earl of Snowden
Day three of Royal Ascot, known colloquially as Ladies Day, features the Gold Cup race.

The Aga Khan's Sumiha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) stepped up a notch on Friday evening to garner a breakthrough win in Cork's G3 Darley Munster Oaks. Anchored towards the back early by Chris Hayes, the Dermot Weld-trained relative of Sinndar (Ire) stayed on resolutely to collar

“It was run at a good gallop and was a true test, but she is a talented filly,” Kris Weld said. “She deserved to win a race of that nature and is a lovely, kind-natured filly. She has had three relatively quick races now, so we'll freshen her up and look to the autumn.”

Pedigree Notes