Aga Khan Studs

Connections of Calandagan (Gleneagles) will keep a close eye on ground conditions at Epsom before making a final decision on his participation in Saturday's G1 Coolmore Coronation Cup. Following rainfall totalling 25 millimetres overnight and into Tuesday morning, the official going on the Derby course was changed to good, good to soft in places, with further rain forecast for the rest of the week. Nemone Routh, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, conceded that the situation is "not ideal" for the world's highest-rated turf horse, who is unbeaten...

The Aga Khan Studs' hitherto undefeated Behrayna (Sea The Moon) accounted for Zlata (Zarak) in last month's Listed Prix de la Seine at ParisLongchamp and repeated the dose in Sunday's G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly to bolster her perfect record in the 12-furlong contest. "She's a lovely filly, we've always liked her and I have always wanted to step her up to a mile-and-a-half," revealed Francis Graffard. "She showed me that I was right, as she can be a little bit off the bridle, and she needs plenty of...

Aga Khan Studs' Calandagan (Gleneagles) and Daryz (Sea The Stars) are both on course for British raids, according to trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Runner-up in the G1 Coronation Cup in 2025, the former has rattled off five Group 1 wins in a row since that defeat and is primed for another attempt at the Epsom contest. Graffard said, "They are both in very good shape and I could not be happier with them. "Calandagan has been trained for Epsom and hopefully the ground will not get too soft. He looks well...

Aga Khan Studs homebred Rayif (Sea The Moon), whose year-older half-sister Rayevka (Blue Point) took the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges earlier on the card, became trainer Francis Graffard's first winner of ParisLongchamp's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains with a dominant performance in this year's renewal. He becomes the the Aga Khan Studs' first winner of the race since Sendawar in 1999. "I always prefer to prepare the horses I train with races that gradually bring them towards the major targets, but this time I didn't really have a choice...

Daryz confirmed his wellbeing with a dazzling turn-of-foot in last week's G1 Prix Ganay and his year-younger half-brother Daryzan (Zarak) was the focus in Tuesday's Prix Mendez, a one-mile newcomers' event, at Saint-Cloud. The Francis Graffard-trained G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry did not disappoint and delivered a scintillating performance of his own to earn a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, rosette on debut, becoming the second Rising Star for his Haras de Bonneval-based sire. "He's an immature horse, we've done a lot...

The Aga Khan Studs homebred Samangan (Blue Point), last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G3 Prix Djebel, has been ruled out of Saturday's Betfred 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Samangan was beaten just once in four starts as a two-year-old, notably winning the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly on his final outing. Hopes had been high of a big run at Newmarket following an encouraging return to action at Deauville, but his absence now means that the first British Classic of the season will...

Any fears that Daryz (Sea The Stars) might need his reintroduction in Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay proved wide of the mark as the Arc hero served notice of what is to come in 2026 with a scintillating display. Sent off the 7-10 favourite for the 10 1/2-furlong ParisLongchamp feature, the son of Daryakana (Selkirk) cruised through the contest with Mickael Barzalona happy to wait behind the leading pair. Set alight inside the two, the homebred surged to a 3 1/2-length success from the race-fit Bright Picture (Intello). There was another 1 3/4...

Last year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Daryz (Sea The Stars) is set to face five rivals in Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay World Pool by PMU at ParisLongchamp after declarations for the 10 1/2-furlong contest were confirmed Friday morning. The Aga Khan Studs homebred is in fine fettle ahead of his seasonal debut according to Francis Graffard, who has ambitious plans for the four-year-old further down the line. "He's in fantastic shape and looks amazing," the trainer reported earlier this week. "I started working him some time ago...

There was much to absorb over the last weekend and, significantly for the tier of horseracing which prompts so much fan engagement, the two best horses in Europe both returned victorious in Dubai. Calandagan (Gleneagles) and Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), first and second in last year's Qipco Champion Stakes and just two pounds apart in the 2025 Longines World Rankings, each put down an important marker for the season ahead, in the Dubai Sheema Classic and Dubai Turf respectively. And, yes, perhaps one can argue that there wasn't the usual...

Back in competitive action for the first time since being crowned Longines World's Best Racehorses for 2025, Calandagan (Gleaneagles) signalled that he won't be giving up his crown without a fight when reeling in longshot West Wind Blows (Teofilo) to avenge last year's defeat in the $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday. Runner-up to Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) 12 months ago, Calandagan was a warm order to go one place better in this six-strong field and register a fifth consecutive Group 1 success for Francis-Henri Graffard and...

The Aga Khan Studs' Calandagan (Gleneagles) has been cleared to travel to the UAE and contest the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan next week. Rated the Longines World's Best Racehorse of 2025, the gelding won the G1 Japan Cup, among other triumphs closer to home last term. The familiar green and red silks will also be carried by Rayevka (Blue Point), who is already based in Dubai ahead of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Nemone Routh, racing manager for the family, said, "We've been very happy with Calandagan. "This...

Mating plans for some of the illustrious names at the Aga Khan Studs have been revealed, with Zarigana, the winner of last year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, set to visit Justify for her maiden cover in 2026, while the four-time Group 1 scorer Tahiyra goes to Frankel. Tahiyra and Zarigana are both Classic-winning daughters of Siyouni, who will reportedly receive an increased number of around 30 mares from the Aga Khan Studs due to the injury to Zarak which has temporarily sidelined him from covering duties. Among them is another...