The racing and bloodstock world has been saddened this week by the passing of H.H. the Aga Khan IV, who was born in 1936 and passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4th February aged 88, surrounded by his family.
Aga Khan Studs issued the following statement.
Everyone at the Aga Khan Studs, in Normandy, in Chantilly and in Ireland, send their sincere condolences to the family of His Highness the Aga Khan following his passing on 4th February 2025.
For 65 years, His Highness has been at the head of his family’s breeding and racing operation, which is today one of the most prestigious in Europe. Guided by his passion for horses and the sport of horseracing, he has carefully developed and shaped his studs and bloodlines in a quest for excellence, whilst also playing a pivotal role in supporting the wider racing and breeding industries.
His memory will endure at the Aga Khan Studs through the horses he has bred and the families he has nurtured. Working under the direction of His Highness has been an honour and a privilege for all staff at his stud farms in Ireland and France and at the Aiglemont training centre, who benefit from his legacy of excellence that will continue to inspire for generations to come.
He had been at the head of the Aga Khan Studs since 1960 when he took over the operation aged 23, following the death of his father Prince Aly Khan.
Today, the Aga Khan Studs comprises four properties in Ireland and five properties in France:
Gilltown Stud, Co. Kildare – Irish headquarters & home to the Irish-based stallions - together with Sallymount Stud, Sheshoon Stud and Ballyfair Stud (formerly known as Brownstown). The Irish studs total 980 hectares.
Haras de Bonneval, Normandy – French headquarters & home to the French-based stallions – together with Haras de Saint Crespin, Haras d’Ouilly and Haras de Tupot. The French studs total 556 hectares.
Aiglemont Training Centre, Oise – bespoke racehorse training facility in France opened in 1977.
The Aga Khan Studs currently stand one stallion in Ireland (Sea The Stars) and four stallions in France (Erevann, Siyouni, Vadeni and Zarak).
Homebred stallion Siyouni has been the champion French-based stallion for the past seven consecutive years, while Zarak – a son of champion Zarkava – is one of the rising stars of the European stallion scene.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, the first daughter of His Highness, has been actively involved in the Aga Khan Studs since the 1990s and was represented by her first winner, Daralbayda, in 1996.
She currently leads the management team in charge of the running of the Aga Khan Studs in France and Ireland and they will look to move forward in 2025 following another successful season last year with star performer Ezeliya wining the Group I Epsom Oaks.
In Australia, Arrowfield Stud enjoyed a fruitful association with Aga Khan Studs breeding the Champion 3YO Colt and now leading young sire The Autumn Sun in a joint partnership.
