Pedigree Watch – Euro France 3YO – Aga Khan Breds on Fire

Tara Madgwick - Monday April 14

French Classic trials at Longchamp overnight produced a couple of exciting prospects by Churchill and Siyouni that are both bred and raced by Aga Khan Studs.

The Group III Prix Fontainebleau (1600m) was won by Churchill colt Ridari, who scored by a nose over Wootton Basset colt Sahlan.

Advertisement

Trained by Mikel Delzangles, Ridari won a maiden at Chantilly last year from just two starts and was making his seasonal debut.

“I'm very pleased, as he's not an easy horse–he can be quite keen, so the jockey gave him a real good ride,” Delzangles said.

“He quickened nicely and it was a good prep for the big one (G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains) in four weeks' time. He's a May foal and not even three yet, so there should be more to come. His dam was like him, quite keen but with a lot of class.”

Ridari is the 31st stakes-winner for Churchill, who has had good success for Aga Khan Stud’s previously giving them Champion 3YO Colt Vadeni.

Ridari is the best of five winners from Group I winning Motivator mare Ridasiyna.

The Group III Prix de la Grotte (1600m) was won by Siyouni filly Zarigana, who was a G3 winner last season and finished her juvenile year with a second in the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac.

Trained by Francis- Henri Graffard, Zarigana picked up well to the line to win by a neck and has now won three of four starts.

“There is so much expectation and pressure with this filly, but this job is easy for her mechanically which is not a surprise when you look at her pedigree,” said Graffard.

“She has a lot of quality and excitement in her, so we need to manage her properly and it is obviously very important to win a G1 with her.”

Zarigana is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Frankel mare Zarkamiya, a half-sister to Group I winning sire Zarak from 2008 European Horse of the Year Zarkava.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pedigree Watch – Juvenile Stakes-Winners
Three new season juvenile stakes races on Saturday produced a $1million yearling purchase that gave Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside the perfect start to his stud career, a pinhook winner turned stakes-winner and a colt foaled in Australia with a Kiwi pedigree.
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
War Machine Stakes Everest Claim - G2 Gilgai
David Hayes has a New Zealand-bred superstar heading into the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) in two weeks, where his sons Ben, Will and JD Hayes might line up against him with a Kiwi-bred Group One winner of their own.
Briasa Wins $1million G2 Premiere Stakes- Everest Next
Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile will have a runner in the $20million The Everest and his explosive grey sprinter Briasa will be going into the race in top form following an exciting win at Randwick on Saturday in  the $1million Group I ATC Premiere Stakes (1200m).
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Surprise Bart Cummings Victory Secures Valiant King Melbourne Cup Run
It’s not often you see a runner from the Chirs Waller stable go around at 50/1 odds, but 6yo gelding Valiant King (GB) produced an outstanding effort to win Saturday’s $350,000 Group 3 VRC Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, securing himself a run in this year’s $10m Gr1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).