Aga Khan Studs Celebrates Its Centenary

T H E A G A K H A N S T U D S C E L E B R A T E S I T S C E N T E N A R Y

It has become something of a tradition over the last 200 years or so for the Aga Khan, the head of the Nizari Isma’ilism branch of the Islamic faith, to take a rich interest in sport and in particular horses. The very first Aga Khan (1804-1881) was said to have owned some of the world’s finest Arabian horses, which were then inherited by his son, the second Aga Khan. This interest would inevitably move towards thoroughbreds and His Highness the Aga Khan III – the grandfather of the current Aga Khan IV – was one of the most successful owners of his time in the first half of the 20th Century. The Aga Khan Studs which he established celebrates its centenary this year. He owned no fewer than 16 Classic winners during his lifetime, with five of those coming in The Derby itself between 1930 and 1948. The first of his five winners was the Dick Dawsontrained Blenheim, who was a one length victor of the 1930 Derby under Harry Wragg. Blenheim was the lesser fancied of the two Aga Khan runners but snatched victory in the final strides, leading to Wragg describing Blenheim as having won in “the most gentlemanly manner”. And the achievement of winning at Epsom Downs was not lost on the Aga Khan himself, who said: “I can hardly believe it to be true, it all seems like a dream. It is impossible to say how glad I am to have won the greatest race in the world.

“The Derby is the most ticklish of all races. The course is critical, the temperament and even the mood of the animal is critical. I know of no more searching test for a horse than to run in the Derby.” Further success would follow in the 1935 Derby, when Bahram would become his first ever homebred winner of The Derby, having been sent off as a 5-4 favourite for trainer Frank Butters. He was described by the Press as having “the hopes and bets of half of Britain” and he did not disappoint, eventually going on to become the only 20th Century horse to win the English Triple Crown and remain unbeaten. Three more winners would follow for the Aga Khan III in Mahmoud (1936), My Love (1948) and Tulyar (1952) and he would play another key role in the history of British horseracing, gifting Her Majesty The Queen her first racehorse as a wedding present. That filly was a foal named Astrakhan, who was a grand-daughter of Derby winner Bahram and went on to give The Queen her first winner on the Flat, at Hurst Park in 1950. Upon his death in 1957, the third Aga Khan was succeeded by his grandson Aga Khan IV. Much like his grandfather before him, he has a rich interest in the equestrian world and horseracing and it is something he still enjoys to this day alongside his daughter, Princess Zahra Aga Khan. A key player in both the racing and breeding worlds in modern times, the Aga Khan IV has proven to be just as successful in The Derby as his grandfather, equalling his five victories. The first of those victories remains perhaps the most famous Derby winner of them all as it came in 1981 with Shergar, who still holds the record for the largest winning margin courtesy of his 10-length victory. Paying tribute to his grandfather, he said after the race: “In many ways, the Derby vindicates my decision to continue in racing. There is the joy and happiness of winning and there is the continuing of a family tradition.” The green silks with red epaulettes and a green cap of the Aga Khan became known around the world and he would win The Derby twice more in the 1980s, with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Shahrastani in 1986 and the Luca Cumani-trained Kahyasi in 1988. More Derby history would be made with Sinndar, who became the first winner of the premier Classic in the new Millennium for John Oxx and Johnny Murtagh, while the Aga Khan would go on to match his grandfather’s tally of five winners when winning the 2016 renewal with the Dermot Weld-trained Harzand. He also has a close relationship with Her Majesty The Queen, gifting her a horse as an 80th birthday present in 2006. That horse was called Estimate, who ensured that Her Majesty would become the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in its 207-year history, when gamely defeating Simenon by a neck in 2013. Owning breeding operations in both Ireland and France, the Aga Khan has continued the legacy of his grandfather’s love of the sport with great commitment, building an operation which will be enjoyed for many years to come.