Why is the Aga Khan such a consistent producer of top class horses? The answer is I don't know but I'm always surprised at the stallions he chooses to use. While others are slaves to fashion the Aga Khan studs are unafraid to use stallions that many others don't consider. Teofilo had a golden year 2 years ago but isn't the most popular of sires. Yet here he is again as the damsire of a Classic winner in the shape of Ezeliya. Her granddam is by Dubai Destination, not everyone's choice. Sure, he mixes them up with the best of sires, in this case Dubawi but many of his mares have a whole mixture of sires. I think it's to their strength.
I don't know but I imagine he focuses on conformation and other attributes to ensure the attributes compliment his mares. It was much easier when we bred afghan hounds because we had seen the potential sires and grand parents and were aware of any faults being passed down from past generations. No specimen was perfect so doubling up on imperfections could be avoided
What a cracker she ran. Such a shame she got so far back in the early stages of the race, but I can't blame William B. for that, just the way the race panned-out. Have to admit that I did not fancy the winner at all, but she certainly proved how wrong I was! Anyway, very happy with the e/w. There must have been a fair amount of money for Dance Sequence, for it to get as low as 7/1 SP?
Super shout with What A Glance pilgrim. I did a short write up about the young jockey on here a few weeks ago and he showed again tonight that he is a young claimer with a big future!
Yes he won very easy at Cheltenham LTO (11/1 SP, took 14/1 in the morning), but this race was another level much higher (in theory), but he also won well. I advised small stakes in case Cheltenham was a mirage, but it was not. The jockey at Cheltenham also did a great ride.
Unfortunately Gina got Ginerd on the line by the lady’s champion jockey Izzie Marshall who had a fantastic season. On a personal level our horses season was short lived and he was put away early for the summer. We go again next season.
Racing throws up some remarkable twists of fate and on the same day that the Aga Khan's colours were carried to victory at Epsom in the Oaks, how fitting that the daughter of the man who rode the Aga Khan`s last Derby winner Harzand, Pat Smullen, rode her first winner under rules at Tramore. Quite a scalp she took on Gordon Elliott's Fillusin, too, as she beat Jody Townend on El Fabiolo's full sister, 2/5 fav Si Se Puede.
