From unwanted yearling to Classic hero: Highwayman becomes Persian King's first Group 1 winner with landmark St Leger triumph

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Highwayman wrote his name into the history books at Doncaster as he powered to an impressive victory in the 250th St Leger, becoming the first Group 1 winner for his Classic-winning sire Persian King.

The 11-1 winner supplied a significant landmark for his Haras d’Etreham-based sire in the final Classic of the British Flat season, little more than two years after failing to find a buyer at the Arqana October Yearling Sale.

Bred in France by Thierry de La Heronniere, Highwayman went through the ring in Deauville in 2024 but was led out unsold at just €19,000.

Highwayman hails from an Aga Khan family. He is out of the once-raced Harlan’s Holiday mare Salyana, who had already produced a winner in Swann. 

His second dam, Sliyna, is a sister to the multiple Group 1-winning champion Slickly. 

Persian King: stands at Haras d’Etreham

Sliyna is also a half-sister to Grade 2 winner No Slip and the stakes-winning Sichilla, dam of Siyouma, winner of the Sun Chariot Stakes and EP Taylor Stakes, as well as Siyouni, whose victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere preceded an outstanding stallion career at the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval.

Trained by Andre Fabre for Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd, Persian King won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and was runner-up to Sottsass in the Prix du Jockey Club at three.

He returned at four to add the Prix d’Ispahan and Prix du Moulin to his record before signing off his career with a third-placed finish, again behind Sottsass, in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Persian King, whose oldest crop are four-year-olds, is the sire of eight stakes winners, including Prix Eugene Adam winner Pearled Majesty. 

The son of Kingman retired to Haras d’Etreham at a fee of €30,000 and remained at that level for his second season. His fee was clipped to €25,000 for each of the following three years before falling to €15,000 in 2026.

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