HH Aga Khan IV

The Betfred Derby will this year be run in memory of HH Aga Khan IV. The spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims died on February 4 at the age of 88.  From Shergar's imperious romp in 1981 to Harzand's victory in partnership with the late Pat Smullen in 2016, the Aga Khan won the Epsom Classic five times with homebreds, including Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988), and Sinndar (2000), who went on to win the Irish Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He also won last year's Betfred...

It is plain to see that the Aga Khan Studs are in excellent hands, but the passing of His Highness the Aga Khan IV nevertheless signals the end of one of the most significant chapters in the long and storied history of Thoroughbred breeding. During his 65-year tenure at the head of the Aga Khan Studs, he presided over a prolonged period of growth, both in the stature and size of the operation, which was consolidated and expanded by the acquisition of stock from other major breeders. Those included Francois...