Siyarafina starts life in the paddocks after premature retirement from racing

Group 1-winning mare Siyarafina is settling into life at the Aga Khan’s breeding operation after being retired from racing.

The daughter of Pivotal and Listed winner Siyenica raced only four times, all within the space of just over two months, going through a Saint-Cloud maiden and a Longchamp conditions event. After failing to satisfy connections enough to run in the French Guineas, her finest hour came when she landed the Prix Saint Alary at the same Paris track instead.

Siyarafina was sent off a hot favourite for the French Oaks but could only stay on for sixth for her trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre.

"She arrived at the stud on Monday and she is well, though she has a minor chip which has obliged us to call an end to her racing career," said Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France.

"She is a Group 1 winning filly with enormous value as a broodmare. She had a phenomenal ability to accelerate and although we didn't have the opportunity to fully explore what her best trip was, we know she was brilliant at 1,600 metres and perhaps 2,000 as well. That turn of foot is something you love to see in a horse and makes her a great addition to the stud."

From one of her owner-breeder’s great lines, Siyarafina is related to his smart stallion Siyouni via his blue hen Sichilla.

"It's a wonderful family which descends from a Lagardere line which has since been crossed successfully with Aga Khan stock and in fact Aga Khan stallions [Azamour]," Rimaud said.

We don't have a great number of mares from that family because we sold [Siyouni's half-sister] Siyouma. It is always disappointing to have to retire a filly of her quality but we are delighted to have her in great health ahead of her breeding career."

Rimaud also had news of a member of another of the Aga Khan's cherished herd in Zarkallani, son of his unbeaten Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava, who won a Longchamp maiden but was well-beaten in the Prix du Jockey Club.

"Zarkallani is well and I expect him to run again at Deauville at a slightly lower level than we tried last time." he said.

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