COLONEL Hall-Walker, later Lord Wavertree, established a stud at Tully in Co Kildare. He bred the winners of seven English classics and, by gifting his bloodstock during World War I, provided the genesis for two National Studs.

Yet his greatest contribution to upgrading the thoroughbred was to introduce, at the turn of the century, a young Indian Prince, the late Aga Khan III, to English racing. Later on, this same influential friendship would lead the Aga Khan to purchase land and start breeding in Ireland.

While this was the genesis of what was to become an incredibly successful breeding and racing operation, Aga Khan III was no stranger to thoroughbreds. His family had been associated with horses since the sixth century, and his grandfather established a stud and stable in India in the 19th century.

In the summer of 1921, the Aga Khan approached George Lambton to ask him if he would take some horses. Lambton had to decline, but agreed to buy yearlings at the sales. He was instructed to concentrate on fillies. Over the next 15 months the Aga Khan put together the finest collection of fillies ever accumulated by a single individual in such a brief period of time.

There was one very special purchase at 7,700gns. a filly by Tracery, and the Aga Khan showed how much she meant by naming her Teresina, after his wife, the grandmother of the recently deceased Aga Khan. Teresina won the Goodwood Cup, and in 1930, her daughter Theresina gave her owner-breeder his first Irish fillies’ classic.

From the same Doncaster sales ring came another filly, Cos for 5,000gns. This daughter of Flying Orb was to play a vital role both on the track and at the farm. At Lambton’s suggestion, the Aga Khan had sent his purchases to Richard Dawson, and the trainer was determined that she would start at the top. He introduced Cos in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she registered the Aga Khan’s first English racing success in 1922.

Remarkable success

Eight years later, Cos achieved a more remarkable success. Rustom Pasha, the second produce of Cos, and already winner of the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, lined up at Newmarket for the Champion Stakes, which he won. Rustom Pasha had become the first of no less than 11 home-bred winners of this contest for the Aga Khan and his family. Other notable winners for the family of this race include such superstars as Nasrullah, the greatest of all the Aga Khan-bred stallions, and Petite Etoile.

In 1922, Mumtaz Mahal was bought by the Aga Khan. The price of 9,100gns was not a record, but observers at the sale agreed that the spotted grey daughter of The Tetrarch was the most perfectly formed filly ever seen. Mumtaz Mahal’s successes on the track pale in comparison to the influence she would exercise on racing and breeding in every major country.

Largely thanks to Mumtaz Mahal, the Aga Khan III, despite a small stable, finished second to Lord Derby in the leading owners’ list in 1923, and a year later garnered the first of 13 English championships. That year, 1924, was also the one in which he won his first English classics, Diophon in the 2000 Guineas and Salmon Trout in the St Leger. For the rest of his life, the Derby was the race on which the Aga Khan set his sights, and by his death in 1957 he had garnered a record five wins, six seconds and three thirds.

Prince Aly Khan

In 1954, Aga Khan III moved his entire stable to Chantilly. Following his death in 1957, his son Prince Aly Khan bought out the other family bloodstock interests. Prior to his own tragic death in the spring of 1960, Prince Aly Khan enjoyed a memorable year of success at home and abroad. Of all the horses that contributed to his record winnings in England and France, he was most proud of Petite Etoile.

Following his father’s death, the Aga Khan IV pondered whether he should continue his family’s five-generation tradition of racing and breeding. Within months, Charlottesville won the Prix du Jockey Club and Grand Prix de Paris, Sheshoon the Ascot Gold Cup and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Petite Etoile the Coronation Cup, and Venture VII the St James’s Palace and Sussex Stakes. Charlottesville, bred in Kildare, was the first French Derby winner bred outside France. The die was cast.

The full list of achievements on the racecourse for the Aga Khan appears on page 27. In 1977 the start of a three-year period that would transform the Aga Khan’s entire operation began. This was when he undertook the planning and development of the training centre at Aiglemont, close to Chantilly. In quick succession the Aga Khan made two substantial purchases, the Dupré and the Boussac bloodstock portfolios. The band of broodmares swelled from 75 to 164 in 1980.

After this increase in numbers the decision was made to resume racing in England. In 1978, yearlings were sent to Michael Stoute and Fulke Johnson-Houghton. There was an early return from the Dupré investment, with Top Ville training on to win the Prix du Jockey Club.

Potent force

While the Dupré and Boussac stock was being assimilated, the old Aga Khan families showed that they were still a potent force. In 1979, the draft of yearlings sent to Michael Stoute included Shergar, a colt by Great Nephew. He handled the Epsom contours in the Derby, winning by an astonishing 10 lengths. The Irish Derby was an opportunity to prove himself on a very different circuit. Shergar had the same winning margin of four lengths here and in his only encounter with older horses in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Shergar was retired to stud at Ballymany with a syndicated value of £10 million. Tragically, he was kidnapped after having completed one year at stud. The Aga Khan’s personal response to the outrage showed true statesmanship. He refused to blame the many for the misdeeds of the few.

Any owner-breeder anxious to compete at the highest level will invariably take a special interest in the ability displayed on the racecourse by their future stock of broodmares. In this sphere the Aga Khan and all who worked on his farms always had plenty to cheer about.

It was fitting that the Aga Khan celebrated the Jubilee year of the operation by winning four classics with homebreds in 1997, and stock derived from families that he had acquired through the purchase of the Boussac and Dupré studs. Four homebred sires joined the Aga Khan Studs roster around the turn of the 21st century, and made an indelible mark on the breeding operation and European bloodstock at a wider level.

Lagardère purchase

Jean-Luc Lagardère was a breeder and owner who had frequent contact with the Aga Khan, including their work on the modernisation of Chantilly. Lagardère died in 2003, ad two years later the Aga Khan bought 222 horses, including the stallion Linamix. Pat Downes said then: “The Lagardère purchase, aside from introducing new blood into the operation, has been a real success. This acquisition has been consistent with what His Highness has done traditionally where he has introduced the Dupré and Boussac horses.”

Ten years into the new millennium marked an important milestone in the existence of the Aga Khan Studs, the 50th anniversary of His Highness the Aga Khan IV at its helm. After many decades of success standing homebred stallions, the studs widened their horizons from 2010 through partnerships, allowing them to stand some of the world’s best horses, and enjoying notable success with Sea The Stars.

In 2022, the Aga Khan Studs celebrated 100 years of breeding and racing. A century on from the Aga Khan III’s first winners on the racecourse and purchase of legendary foundation mare Mumtaz Mahal, his grandson enjoyed his eighth winner of the Prix du Jockey Club with Vadeni.

This page alone barely touches on the history of the studs and their successes. What is clear is that few, if any, breeders have had as great a continuing influence on the Sport of Kings. His Highness the Aga Khan has left a legacy that cannot be matched for excellence, and it will be honoured by his daughter, Princess Zahra, and all of the team left behind.