TOM and Alexandra Whitehead’s Altenbach Bloodstock signed for the unraced Azama (Sea The Stars) last November at the Goffs November Sale.

The mare was offered as part of the always desirable Aga Khan Studs draft, and she was sold for €200,000. This was a tasty price for a 14-year-old mare, but she had a lot going for her.

Firstly, Azama was sold with a May covering by Zarak (Dubawi) who had just completed his first season standing at a new high of €80,000. Secondly, Azama’s three winners all had blacktype, each of them having been runner-up at group or listed level. Thirdly, Azama’s strong female line continues to deliver on the racecourse, with Group 1 performers galore. All that was missing was for Azama to have a stakes winner.

Well, that is now the case as her four-year-old son Asmarani (Sottsass) is on a roll this year. When his dam was sold he was a winner and runner-up in the Group 3 Prix Hocquart. Gelded, Asmarani has come back this year much improved, and is unbeaten in three starts. These include victories in the Listed Prix Right Royal at Saint-Cloud, and at the weekend he won the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville at ParisLongchamp on the same card as Daryz’s Group 1 Prix Ganay success.

All of this good news for the Whiteheads at Powerstown Stud is enhanced by the fact that the foal Azama was carrying is now safely on the ground, is a colt, and she is visiting Camelot (Montjeu) this year. Could Asmarani do another Calandagan after being cut, and go on to be a Group 1 horse?

Any regret

If there was any regret about selling Azama, the Aga Khan Studs can console themselves with the knowledge that they retain three of her four daughters. They sold the first one, the placed Azila (Dark Angel), online in 2021 and she is at Arrowfield in Australia. This is no surprise as they bred and stand the champion three-year-old and leading sire The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) who is out of a sister to Azama.

Though her first two foals failed to win, Azama’s next three did. In addition to Asmarani, she is dam of the Group 3 Munster Oaks second Azazat (Camelot) – whose first produce is a yearling colt by Siyouni (Pivotal) – and the stakes-placed Azallya (Le Havre). The latter has a yearling daughter by Siyouni and a two-year-old New Bay (Dubawi) colt. Such a lot to look forward to in the future.

It will be a huge disappointment if Azama’s fourth winner does not emerge this year, and maybe this weekend. Her three-year-old daughter Azamita (New Bay) is with Francis Graffard, and was beaten a short head on her debut in mid-March. The winner has since been placed in a listed race. Azamita, at the time of writing, holds an entry this weekend. The Aga Khan Studs also have a yearling son of Azama by Pinatubo (Shamardal).

Zarak son

Such is the depth of this family that when Tom Whitehead offers the Zarak colt for sale, the catalogue page will only fit his dam’s and grandam’s details. Azama is out of the Listed Trigo Stakes winner Asmara (Lear Fan), and she had 11 foals, nine runners and eight winners. Best of these was Azamour (Night Shift), winner of four Group 1 races, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth, Irish Champion, Prince of Wales’s and St James’s Place Stakes.

Azama and her half-sister Azmiya (Galileo) are the only offspring of Asmara who did not race. Azmiya has produced three stakes winners, notably The Autumn Sun. He won five Group 1 races and is the sire of five Group 1 winners: Autumn Boy, Autumn Angel, Coco Sun, Vibrant Sun and the sensational Autumn Glow.

THE story of Height Of Fashion is also that of Shadwell. Almost half a century on from the birth of that great mare, a descendent of hers is emerging as a talented three-year-old. Raaheeb (Sea The Stars) is unbeaten in two starts, most recently in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown. It was revealed during the week that, due to some stiffness, he will skip the Derby but there is no doubt that the Shadwell team has both an exciting racing and stallion prospect.

Bred and raced by Queen Elizabeth II, Height Of Fashion was champion at two in 1981, the year the racing stable of what is Shadwell was established. It was the acquisition of this daughter of Bustino (Busted) that was to become one of the most inspired purchases they made.

Height Of Fashion was from a family whose influence was established, and many branches would later enhance its reputation. The pedigree has spawned multiple champion sire Deep Impact (Sunday Silence), champion sire Round Table (Princequillo), and another champion sire in Aureole (Hyperion).

Height Of Fashion was a daughter of Highclere (Queen’s Hussar) who won the 1000 Guineas and Prix de Diane-French Oaks. The English classic was won three decades earlier by Highclere’s grandam Hypericum (Hyperion), bred and raced by Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, and trained by Captain Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort.

Major Dick Hern trained Height Of Fashion who was unbeaten at two, and she was rated joint best of her sex and age in Europe. The following year she won the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes, and was sold in the aftermath of that win. Her new owner did not enjoy any racecourse good fortune.

Outstanding producer

At stud, Height Of Fashion went on to become an outstanding producer, her eight winners all earning blacktype, and six of them stakes winners. Her influence for Shadwell has been great, and more than 50 stakes winners descend from her. She produced Nayef (Gulch), four times a Group 1 winner and a Group 1 sire and successful broodmare sire.

Height Of Fashion also bred the four-time Group 1 winner and multiple top-flight sire Nashwan (Blushing Groom). He won the Derby, 2000 Guineas and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Another son was Group 2 winner Unfuwain (Northern Dancer), a Group 1 sire.

Four of Height Of Fashion’s five daughters have made names for themselves, and two in particular deserve highlighting; the full-sisters Sarayir and Bashayer (Mr Prospector). The former, a dual stakes winner, bred the Group 1 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway).

Though none of her progeny earned blacktype, Cheshire Oaks runner-up Bashayer’s influence for Shadwell is growing. Her granddaughter Lahudood (Singspiel) won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Dam of four stakes winners, Lahudood is Baaeed’s, Hukum’s and Raaheeb’s grandam through her daughter Aghareed (Kingmambo), a listed race winner in France.

Major flagbearers

Full-brothers Baaeed (Sea The Stars) and Hukum have been flagbearers for Shadwell on the track, and hopefully will go on to success at stud. Hukum was victorious on 11 of his 18 starts, capturing the Group 1 Coronation Cup and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He is at stud in Japan.

Baaeed enjoyed an outstanding racing career that saw him go to stud with £2.6 million banked from 10 victories. He established himself a great champion with a win in the Juddmonte International, his sixth at Group 1 level, matching the achievement of his sire. He added that to wins in the Lockinge, Queen Anne, Queen Elizabeth II and Sussex Stakes and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Raaheeb has a lot to live up to.