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sageform
15 Aug 25 09:07
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Date Joined: 15 Jun 01
| Topic/replies: 31,215 | Blogger: sageform's blog
The Racing Post Bloodstock article today describes an open day for journalists hosted by Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Normandy when the resident stallions, mares and foals were shown off and the Princess answered questions about the past and future of the stud operation that has been a real study of mine for 50 years or more. Great to know that it is still in good hands.
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Report sageform October 20, 2025 8:52 AM BST
The Arc and then the Champion Stakes reinforce just how good the Aga Khan bloodlines still are. Kalpana finally justified keeping her in training at 4yo by winning her second Fillies and Mares at Ascot.
Report sageform November 30, 2025 7:27 PM GMT
Calandagan completed a very good season for the Aga Khan Studs.
Report fenderswoop December 9, 2025 12:25 PM GMT
Finally got round to watching "A Game Of Chess With Nature" last night and I think the studs and breeding operation will be in good hands with Zahra
Report zygote March 13, 2026 1:34 PM GMT
The Aga Khan maintained a broodmare band of around 190. His fondness for "nurturing" certain bloodlines led to him keep dozens of poor racemares for breeding. It strikes me that an operation so big should have greater success than it does. I am a mere nobody, but culling the broodmore band to the best 75 would save an awful lot of money.
Report kincsem March 13, 2026 5:57 PM GMT
The problem is deciding which mares are best.

My analysis shows a foal inherits about 25% of the dam rating.
The average BHA flat rating is about 68, but for this example I'll take 70 as the average.
A mare rated 110 will have a foal rated (70 plus 25% of (110-70)), or the foal will be 70+10 = 80 foal.

The reverse happens.
A mare rated 30 will have a foal rated (70 minus 25% of (70-30)), or 70-10 = 60 foal.

A few mares, very, very few, will frequently produce good foals.
It is choosing the correct sire for the mare that is the skill.
And the correct sire does not mean the most expensive sire.
Report truehoncho March 16, 2026 7:45 PM GMT
I tend to agree with you Zygote. I suppose when you have so much money that you never earned it doesn't really matter how you waste it.
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