Multiple Group 1 winner dies in Normandy at the age of 21
Exceptional racehorse and successful sire Dalakhani (Darshaan) has died at the age of 21, the Aga Khan Studs announced on Friday.
Through his exceptional race career, the son of Darshaan (Shirley Heights) won eight of his nine races.
He was unbeaten as a juvenile, kicking off his career in a maiden at Deauville before going on to win the Prix des Chenes (Gr 3, 1600m), while he landed his first top-level victory on his next start in the Saint-Cloud Criterium International (Gr 1, 1600m).
As a three-year-old he made his seasonal debut by taking out the Prix Greffulhe (Gr 2, 2100m), before landing his second top-flight contest in the Prix Lupin (Gr 1, 2100m) and added a third in the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2400m).
He surrendered his unbeaten record when finished second on his next start in the Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f), but regained his winning streak in the Prix Niel (Gr 2, 2400m), while his crowning glory came on his final start when he took out the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m), leading to him being crowned Horse of the Year and Champion three-year-old in 2003.
Dalakhani - who shuttled to Cornerstone Stud for three seasons - is the sire of 55 stakes winners, headed by ten Group 1 winners, including multiple top-flight scorer Conduit and Reliable Man, who now shuttles to Westbury Stud in New Zealand.
In Australia he has sired five stakes winners, headed by the aforementioned Reliable Man, who landed the 2013 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) - his second victory at Group 1 level having landed the Prix du Jockey Club as a three-year-old.
Dalakhani is from one of the best-bred Aga Khan families, being out of Listed winner Daltawa (Miswaki), making him a half-brother to fellow multiple Group 1 winner Daylami (Doyoun), Group 3 scorer Dalghar (Anabaa) as well as Listed scorer Daymarti (Caerleon).
This is also the same family as Group 3 winner Daltaya (Anabaa) - the dam of stakes winner Dalkala (Giant’s Causeway), while this is also the same family as this season’s Angst Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) winner Emeralds (Sebring).
Dalakhani was retired from covering duties in 2016 and was enjoying retirement at Haras d’Ouilly in Normandy.
