Aga Khan Fifth Win Of The World's Greatest Flat Race

-In the News-
Epsom, June 4, 2016: The Aga Khan homebred Harzand moved to the lead in mid-stretch of the Investec Epsom Derby, giving the Aga Khan a fifth win of the world's greatest Flat race.

“In this activity, what we try to do is not just to get into this position but to stay in this position,” said His Highness The Aga Khan, winning owner/breeder of Harzand, who was celebrating his fifth triumph in Epsom’s blue riband 35 years after Shergar had blazed a trail with his jaw-droppping ten-length win.

He continued, “It’s an effort that starts before the horse is actually bred. You’re looking at the matings, then you breed, you raise, you race. Harzand is from a family that has been with me for ten generations.”

Harzand is the fifth Epsom Derby winner for the Aga Khan, joining Shergar, 1981; Shahrastani, 1987; Kahyasi, 1988; and Sinndar, 2000.

"This is a major gift for everybody who works with me in this wonderful activity. To win a fifth Derby for the family is obviously very historic," said the Aga Khan after matching his grandfather's five Epsom Derby wins.

The present Aga Khan IV, has now equaled his grandfather, the third Aga Khan, who also had five Derby victories courtesy of *Blenheim II (1930), *Bahram (1935), *Mahmoud (1936), My Love (1948) and *Tulyar (1952).

“Winning the Derby is a goal for any owner. It has been for centuries. This is a great race with a great history,” the Aga Khan said. “It’s been that way for three generations of my family.”

Photo: The Aga Khan, winning owner, greets Harzand and Pat Smullen after their win in the 2016 Derby