GREAT excitement this week when the post arrived, and contained the 2023 volume of The Aga Khan Studs’ studbook. I received my first copy in 1991, when the stallions were Akarad, Darshaan, Doyoun, Kahyasi, Lashkari, Shahrastani, Shardari, Shernazar and Zayyani. That year there were 220 broodmares listed, along with 51 fillies, aged three or more in training, headed by that year’s Group 1 Prix Ganay and Group 1 Grosser Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen winner Kartajana.

The number of horses in training swelled further, with 135 two-year-olds and a handful of three-year-old colts.

The Aga Khan Studs were also home to 70 yearling colts, 67 yearling fillies, 59 colt foals and 84 filly foals. I will save you the trouble of getting out a calculator, and tell you that this amounted to some 695 head of stock in the ownership of one of the greatest owner-breeders in history. Today those numbers have been slimmed back a little, and this year they welcomed just less than 100 foals – still an astonishing number.

The past two years on the racecourse has seen His Highness the Aga Khan’s colours carried to successes by two outstanding stars, who are now retiring, Tahiyra and Vadeni, along with Group 2 winners Erevann (also heading to stud in 2024), Shartash, Darkaniya, and Group 3 winners Zabiyara, Shamida, Baiykara and Tariyana.

Listed on the page is a selection of mares currently on the books at The Aga Khan Studs.

AZMIYNA (2010 f. by Galileo ex Asmara, by Lear Fan)

This unraced half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Azamour (Night Shift) is the dam of five winners, the best of which is The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice). Now at stud, The Autumn Sun won the Group 1 J J Atkins Stakes, Group 1 Rosehill Guineas, Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes, Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, and he is off to an exciting start at stud. Covered by Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) in 2023.

CANDARLIYA (2012 f. by Dalakhani ex Candara, by Barathea)

Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, Candarliya won six races at three and four, including the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu, Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and Group 3 Prix Minerve, and runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille. Candarliya is the dam of the stakes-placed winner Carini (Siyouni) and she was covered in 2023 by Siyouni (Pivotal).

DALTAMA (2005 f. by Indian Ridge ex Daltawa, by Miswaki)

Placed at three, Daltama is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Daylami (Doyoun) and Dalakhani (Darshaan). She is the dam of five winners, her best being the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Dolniya (Azamour), and that mare’s offspring include the Group 3 winner Dilawar (Dubawi). Daltama was covered in 2023 by Zarak (Dubawi).

DARYAKANA (2006 f. by Selkirk ex Daryaba, by Night Shift)

In the care of Alain de Royer-Dupré, Daryakana won five times at three, adding the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase to a victory in the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu. At four she was placed in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. All of her five winners are stakes winners, and her first foal was the Group 1 Prix Ganay winner Dariyan (Shamardal). Daryakana was not covered this year, having produced a colt foal by Zarak (Dubawi).

DOLNIYA (2011 f. by Azamour ex Daltama, by Indian Ridge)

Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, Dolniya won more than £2.5 million with five victories, headed by her win at four in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic. In France she won the Group 2 Prix de Malleret, while placed efforts included finishing second in the Group 1 Coronation Cup, and third in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille and Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Dam of a Group 3 winner and two stakes-placed winners, Dolniya was covered in 2023 by Zarak (Dubawi).

EBAIYRA (2017 f. by Distorted Humor ex Ebiyza, by Rock Of Gibraltar)

Ebaiyra went to stud this year and was covered by Zarak (Dubawi). She was trained by both Alain de Royer-Dupré and Francis-Henri Graffard and her five victories, all in stakes races, included both the Group 2 Prix de Pomone and Group 2 Prix Corrida. Second in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, she was also placed at Group 1 level in the Prix de Royallieu, Hong Kong Vase, Prix Jean Romanet and Bayerisches Zuchtrennen.

EBIZYA (2010 f. by Rock Of Gibraltar ex Ebalista, by Selkirk)

Winner of the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu, Ebizya is responsible for three winners, two of them stakes winners, and the best is Ebaiyra (see above). Ebizya was covered this year by Zarak (Dubawi).

EZIYRA (2014 f. by Teofilo ex Eytarna, by Dubai Destination)

Winner of six races for Dermot Weld, Eziyra won the Group 2 Blandford Stakes and four Group 3 contests. She was placed three times in Group 1 races, the Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks and the Hong Kong Vase. She was not covered in 2024.

RAYDARA (2012 f. by Rock Of Gibraltar ex Raydiya, by Marju)

Won twice for Johnny Murtagh, notably the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at two. Dam of three winners, including listed winner Rajapour (Almanzor) and group-placed Ridenza (Sea The Stars). Covered in 2023 by Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj).

RIDASIYNA (2009 f. by Motivator ex Ridafa, by Darshaan)

Trained by Mikel Delzangles, Ridasiyna was rated the joint-champion filly at three in France. She won four times, and those victories included the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera. She is the dam of four winners, and was covered in 2023 by Ghaiyyath (Dubawi).

SHAMREEN (2013 f. by Dubawi ex Shareen, by Bahri)

Winner of the Group 2 Blandford Stakes twice when trained by Dermot Weld, Shamreen won five races at three and four. Her first two foals are winners, notably the Group 2 Railway Stakes winner and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and National Stakes-placed Shartash (Invincible Spirit). Covered this year by Frankel (Galileo).

SHARETA (2008 f. by Sinndar ex Shawara, by Barathea)

Winner of the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks and Group 1 Prix Vermeille at four, Shareta was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré to win five races. Her placed efforts included running second in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Group 1 Prix de Saint-Cloud, and she was also placed in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille. She was covered in 2023 by Sottsass (Siyouni).

SIYARAFINA (2016 f. by Pivotal ex Siyenica, by Azamour)

Winner of three of her four starts as a three-year-old when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, Siyarafina won the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp. She was covered this year by Frankel (Galileo).

SIYENICA (2010 f. by Azamour out of Sichilla, by Danehill)

Stakes winner and group-placed at three in the care of Alain de Royer-Dupré, this half-sister to Group 1 winners Siyouni (Pivotal) and Siyouma (Medicean) is the dam of four winners with her first four foals, including Group 1 winner and now broodmare Siyarafina (see above). Covered in 2023 by Baaeed (Sea The Stars)

TARANA (2010 f. by Cape Cross ex Tarakala, by Dr Fong)

Won three races for trainer John Oxx, twice at listed level, and group-placed, Tarana is the dam of three winners with her first three foals. They include two of the most talented fillies of recent years, both multiple Group 1 winners and champions, Tarnawa (Shamardal) and Tahiyra (Siyouni). Covered in 2023 by Dubawi (Dubai Millennium).

TARNAWA (2016 f. by Shamardal ex Tarana, by Cape Cross)

First foal of Tarana (see above), the two-time champion was trained by Dermot Weld to win nine races. Her Group/Grade 1 victories were gained in the Prix Vermeille, Prix de l’Opera and the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and she also won the Group 2 Blandford Stakes. She was runner-up in both the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes. A half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and champion juvenile filly Tahiyra (Siyouni), Tarnawa was covered in 2023 by Siyouni (Pivotal).

VADERANA (2009 f. by Monsun ex Vadawina, by Unfuwain)

A winner for Alain de Royer-Dupré, Vaderana is the dam of six winners, including the champion three-year-old Vadeni (Churchill), winner of the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby, and the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes. He was also runner-up in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Vaderana was covered this year by Sea The Stars (Cape Cross).

VALIA (2017 f. by Sea The Stars ex Veda, by Dansili)

Four-time winner for Alain de Royer-Dupré, Valia was successful in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay and Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, and she was runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak and third in the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu. She was covered in 2023 by Siyouni (Pivotal).

VAZIRA (2011 f. by Sea The Stars ex Vadaza, by Zafonic)

Alain de Royer-Dupré saddled Vazira to win three times, headed by a victory in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary. A half-sister to another winner of that group 1 contest, Vadawina (Unfuwain), she is the dam of two winners, and was covered this year by Pinatubo (Shamardal).

ZARKAVA (2005 f. by Zamindar ex Zarkasha, by Kahyasi)

European champion at two and three, Zarkava was unbeaten in seven starts for Alain de Royer-Dupré. She won five Group 1 races, the Prix Marcel Boussac at two, and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas, Prix de Diane-French Oaks, Prix Vermeille and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Three of her four winners are stakes winners, headed by Group 1 winner Zarak (Dubawi). Covered in 2023 by Siyouni (Pivotal).