The Irish breeding industry received a massive vote of confidence on Tuesday morning when the Aga Khan Studs team confirmed that dual Arc winner Daryz will stand at Gilltown Stud in Co Kildare next year.

This means Daryz will stand alongside his sire Sea The Stars, who has enjoyed another stellar season in 2026. Winner of four Group 1 races from nine to 12 furlongs and renowned for his dazzling turn of foot, Daryz hails from one of the most distinguished families in the stud book and will be an exciting addition to the stallion ranks in Ireland.

Speaking on Racing TV, Gilltown Stud manager Pat Downes said: "I think it's a great day for Gilltown and a great day for Ireland. Daryz is an exceptional racehorse. He's a really, really good individual with a beautiful pedigree and a great race career. And I think he'll be a great addition to the stallion ranks in Ireland."

Asked how the Aga Khan team decided on Ireland for Daryz, Downes said: "We discussed the merits of having him in Ireland or equally having him in France. I would hope that he'll be used by plenty of French breeders while he's here but, on balance, we felt that we'd like to have him standing at Gilltown alongside his sire, Sea The Stars."

Downe continued: "I think, when when you look at his entire race career, it was defined by the acceleration he can produce at the end of a race, and I think that's what separates good horses and great horses. He had a very lethal acceleration. If he can pass that on to his progeny, it augurs well for him as a stallion."

While travel plans have not yet been made, Downes said he expects Daryz will arrive at Gilltown in time to be inspected by breeders during the Goffs November Sale (November 16th-21st).

Joining Daryz at Gilltown will be group race-winning miler Erevann, who relocates to Ireland from Haras de Bonneval, where he covered full books in each of his first four years at stud. His first yearlings have been exceptionally well-received in the sales ring, and his first crop of two-year-olds are greatly anticipated in 2027. The move offers Irish breeders access to this impeccably bred son of Dubawi and Siyouni’s triple Group 1 winning daughter Ervedya, who is also related to 2026 Group 1 winner Erdenali.

Haras de Bonneval, home to leading sires Siyouni and Zarak as well as promising young sire Vadeni, will welcome two new recruits: Rayif and Samangan.

A superb three-year-old campaign saw Rayif capture both the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois, achieving a double not seen for a quarter of a century.

Also a group race winner and Group 1 placed at two, he was last seen finishing a close third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, where he recorded the race's fastest closing sectionals. This grandson of Sea The Stars combines elite ability over a mile with an appealing speed pedigree, and is a half-brother to Group 1 placed sprinter Rayevka.

Samangan is the fastest and most precocious colt produced by the Aga Khan Studs since Siyouni.

Winner of three races in three months as a juvenile, including two Group races over six furlongs, he returned at three to take the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs this summer. He also finished in the prize money in the Prix Jean Prat, Prix de la Forêt and the Commonwealth Cup. His pedigree is pure speed, being a son of Blue Point out of an Oasis Dream mare from the family of Classic heroine Sarafina.

Nomination fees for all eight Aga Khan Studs stallions will be announced in due course.

The Aga Khan Studs has enjoyed huge international success over the past two years, unfortunately too late for the late Aga Khan who passed away in February 2025. Downes reflected: "Last year was exceptional, and we said, 'Well, it'll be hard to back that up this year' but we've had some tremendous racehorses this year again. We can't expect this every year, but we're very fortunate to have a strong crew of horses, particularly in France. I think somebody might have been looking down from high and wondering 'what have you done the last two years that you weren't doing beforehand!'.

"Princess Zahra's leading us now, and we've been very fortunate with the horses we've had running. Long may it continue, and we'll keep looking forward."

AGA KHAN STUDS STALLION ROSTER FOR 2027

Gilltown Stud

Daryz

Erevann

Sea The Stars

Haras de Bonneval

Rayif

Samangan

Siyouni

Vadeni

Zarak