I AM reluctant to use the well-worn phrase that ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ as it is not entirely accurate in this case, but I am guilty sometimes myself of just being accepting of the fact that another Aga Khan bred horse has become a stakes or group winner.

After the High Chaparral colt Karaktar bounced back from a training setback to land his second Group 3 win of 2015, I asked the Aga Khan Studs for a list of their stakes winners this year. The list is impressive by whatever standards you measure it. Fourteen individual stakes winners in 2015 include two at Group 1 level, one at Group 2, seven at Group 3 and four at listed status. Furthermore, the tally does not include the Grade 1 runner-up Canndal who holds an interesting entry in the upcoming Arqana Arc Sale.

Another fascinating aspect of the list of 21 stakes performers so far trained in France and Ireland is that they are sons and daughters of 15 different stallions. This was a surprise to me as you might have expected that a large number would be by the owner’s own stallions. Naturally Azamour, Dalakhani, Siyouni and the Tsui family’s Sea The Stars all feature, but the others are Medicean, Shamardal, High Chaparral, Raven’s Pass, Manduro, Dubawi, Dansili, Rock Of Gibraltar, Mastercraftsman, Selkirk and Oratorio.

The star of the year has to be Ervedya who recently added the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp to her earlier victories in the French 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. This three-year-old daughter of Siyouni was Group 1 placed twice at two and met her only defeat this year in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild to Amazing Maria.

Back in March the four-year-old Azamour filly Dolniya landed the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic over a mile and a half at Meydan and then finished second at Epsom in the Coronation Cup. Two weeks ago Candarliya was best of the rest when finding just Treve too good in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille.

The most recent group winner for the Aga Khan is the three-year-old Karaktar and he was making his first start since injuring his back after starting favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club, the French Derby.

A most consistent performer and now a dual Group 3 and a listed winner in 2015, he looks to be a horse with a promising career ahead of him and it would be no surprise to see him collect a Group 2 this year on his way to seeking Group 1 glory in 2016. For the record, the other stakes winners for the Aga Khan in 2015 have been Dariyan (Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam), Kataniya (Group 3 Prix de Royaumont), Candarliya (Group 3 Prix Minerve), Taniyar (Group 3 Prix du Pin), Vazirabad (Group 3 Prix du Lutece), Zannda (Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes), Tanaza (Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes) and the listed winners Ashlan, Massinga, Radanpour and Eshera.