Aga Khan Studs

Godolphin blueblood Spirited Style (Sea The Stars), a daughter of the operation's three-time Group 1 winner Wild Illusion (Dubawi) backed up a breakthrough victory at Haydock in May with a career high on black-type debut in Saturday's Listed Ric & Mary Hambro Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket. "She's improving and improving off each run, she relished the conditions today and really enjoyed the [good-to-] soft ground," said winning rider Billy Loughnane. "I hit the front sooner than ideal, but we had to go as I didn't want to get boxed...

Francis Graffard is considering the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes as an option for Daryz (Sea The Stars), who retained his unbeaten record when winning Sunday's G2 Prix Eugene Adam. Nemone Routh, racing manager for Daryz's owner-breeder The Aga Khan Studs, said, "We're slightly scratching our heads with Daryz and we would need to sit down with Princess Zahra as well as there are several options we can take with the horse. "I know Francis is quite interested in the idea of bringing him to the Juddmonte International and he's obviously...

The Aga Khan Studs operation had not celebrated success in Saint-Cloud's G2 Prix Eugene Adam since Dariyan (Shamardal) saluted in 2015, but rectified matters after the hithero unbeaten Daryz (Sea The Stars) defeated five rivals in Sunday's renewal of the 10-furlong contest. "We have high expectations of him and we are very pleased with the result of the race," said trainer Francis Graffard. "We really like him, today was an interesting test and he performed again. There was very little pace in the race and it became very tactical, so...

Last month's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches demotee Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation) heads a field of one dozen contenders for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines after Thursday morning's final declarations were announced for the €1-million Chantilly Classic. Basher Watts Racing's Charlie Fellowes trainee, who has drawn stall seven, will be reopposed by Princess Zahra Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star and Pouliches third Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath), who will emerge from stall 10. Mandanaba will be accompanied by Francis Graffard stablemates Cankoura (Persian King) and G2 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Gezora (Almanzor), who...

The late Prince Aga Khan IV is the most successful owner in the history of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines with seven wins, and two fillies will carry the family's famous silks in Sunday's affair. Representing his daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan is Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath), while Cankoura (Persian King) will race in the Aga Khan Studs' colours. Both fillies are trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, with Mandanaba coming off a third in the G1 Prix d'Essai des Pouliches. Mandanaba carries further distinction as the final foal out of Princess Zahra's...

Epsom racecourse and the sponsor Betfred are to be saluted on their decision to run this year's Derby 'In Honour of His Highness Aga Khan IV'. No family has been a more constant competitor in the Derby over the past century than the Aga Khans. Most recently, HH Aga Khan IV, who died in February, headed the family's racing operation for 65 years, during which time he earned the respect and affection of professionals and public alike thanks to his unique blend of passion, knowledge, sportsmanship, courtesy and dignity.  ...

In-form conditioner Francis Graffard continued on a winning roll at Saint-Cloud Tuesday afternoon and saddled Aga Khan Studs homebred Narissa (Siyouni) to become her sire's 15th TDN Rising Star after she delivered a stunning performance in the seven-furlong Prix Allee d'Amour. Siyouni, himself a Rising Star, boasts a roll of honour which also includes last month's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine  Zarigana. The 3-5 favourite, askew from the gates and careering left at the break, tracked the leaders in fourth before surging forward into a handy third approaching halfway....

Francis Graffard trainee Candelari (Frankel) charted an unusual route to Sunday's G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp and bounced back in style, with Clement Lecoeuvre replacing the suspended Mickael Barzalona in the saddle, after suffering a first reversal in last month's G3 Prix Barbeville. Not only exacting revenge on his Barbeville conquerors Presage Nocturne (Wootton Bassett) and Internaute (Sea The Stars) here, he also put a veritable who's-who of the stayer's division to the sword with a dominant display in this newly elevated 15 1/2-furlong marathon. He had previously collected...

Last month's G1 Prix Ganay hero Sosie (Sea The Stars) justified connections' decision to part with a €18,000 supplementary fee and pounced late to celebrate a hat-trick of Group 1 ParisLongchamp triumphs in Sunday's G1 Prix d'Ispahan at the Bois de Boulogne venue. The 7-10 favourite annexed last year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris and also ran third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and fourth in the G1 Arc. Sosie winner endured a degree of awkwardness during the opening skirmishes and tracked the leaders in fourth for the...

Last term's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Aventure (Sea The Stars) had confirmed her wellbeing at ParisLongchamp last month and continued in similar vein with a comfortable win in Monday's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud. Fresh off a 2 1/2-length triumph in the G3 Prix Allez France at the capital's Bois de Boulogne venue, she settled into a smooth rhythm for most of this 10 1/2-furlong test. Cruising forward on the bridle in the straight, the 2-5 favourite quickened smartly to wrest control from last term's G1 Preis...

PARIS, France -- "Where's Charlie?" The reaction of Francis Graffard, looking for Charlie Fellowes to commiserate before celebrating his own good fortune in being awarded the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, spoke volumes. Not only for the decency of the winning trainer but for the extreme awkwardness surrounding the prolonged stewards' enquiry and ultimate outcome. One man's gain, another's pain. In the case of the demoted Shes Perfect it was not, however, just one man's pain. Almost 60 syndicate owners had joined manager Basher Watts on the pilgrimage to Longchamp in...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Mount Kilimanjaro (Siyouni) needed every yard of Thursday's Listed Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes and continued the Ballydoyle maestro's dominance of this year's Chester Cup meeting with a seventh win in eight renewals, and a record-breaking 12th overall, in the extended 10-furlong contest. Last year's Criterium d'Automne winner and G1 Criterium International runner-up broke well and settled in fifth passing the judge first time, but slipped to sixth at halfway. Coming under pressure with a quarter-mile remaining, the even-money favourite was under a full Ryan Moore pump thereafter...