Australian venture for the Aga Khan comes to fruition

The initial breeding venture between John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud and the Aga Khan Studs, whereby the Aga Khan maintains a group of Australian-based mares at Arrowfield, comprised just six mares back in 2008. But like plenty of the decisions that the Aga Khan has taken over the years to enhance his bloodstock, the results have been far reaching and now, a little under a decade later, this is one with international consequence.

In Australia, several of the resulting produce out of those Australian-based mares have sold for high-flying prices at auction. Various foals, including recent Listed-winning juvenile Azazel, have also acquitted themselves well on the track.

In Europe, meanwhile, the partnership allowed breeders to gain access to Arrowfield’s champion sire Redoute’s Choice, who shuttled to Haras de Bonneval for two seasons in 2013 and 2014. That first European crop are now three-year-olds and include Goldikova’s Listed-placed half-sister Gold Luck.