Kildare figures pay tribute to Aga Khan who died at the age of 88

The Aga Khan, one of racing’s most renowned owner-breeders – whose long list of champions includes Kildare-based Shergar – has died at the of 88.

Paying tribute to HH the Aga Khan, Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said:

“We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of HH the Aga Khan. His Highness was an iconic figure in the global racing industry. He was recognised the world over as a champion breeder and a champion owner and he made his mark in many countries with Ireland playing a significant role in his family’s renowned operation for over 100 years. 

READ MORE: Shock retirement of legendary Kildare trainer 

“On so many levels, Irish racing and breeding will forever be in his debt. We were honoured to present His Highness with Horse Racing Ireland’s Contribution to the Industry Award last December. We hope that recognition went some way towards acknowledging his immense contribution, wonderful generosity and unwavering support of our industry for so many years.”

President Michael D Higgins said: 

"The Aga Khan will of course be particularly remembered in Ireland for his deep connection with the sports of horseracing and showjumping, including his family’s long connection to the Aga Khan Trophy which is competed for each year during the Dublin Horse Show.

 "I was pleased to welcome the Aga Khan to Áras an Uachtaráin in 2018, when we had the opportunity to discuss the importance of supporting sustainable development and the strengthening of civil society to improve the quality of life of poor and marginalised communities."

The Aga Khan became the spiritual leader of the world’s millions of Ismaili Muslims at the age of 20, as a Harvard undergraduate, and poured a material empire built on billions of dollars in tithes into building homes, hospitals and schools in developing countries.

His Aga Khan Foundation announced on its website that Karim Al-Hussaini, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, died on Tuesday in Portugal surrounded by his family. It said an announcement on his successor would come later.

His huge interest in horse racing resulted in a host of all-time great horses. He won the Derby five times, with Shergar in 1981 followed by Shahrastani, Kahyasi, Sinndar and Harzand.

He also won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe four times, through Akiyda, Sinndar, Dalakhani and Zarkava.

But is is Shergar with whom he will always be associated. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the brilliant colt was an imperious winner of the Derby under Walter Swinburn.

After his retirement, he headed for a stallion career in Ireland, but it was there he was kidnapped from the Aga Khan’s stud, in what was generally accepted to have been the work of the IRA. His remains have never been found.

John Oxx trained Sinndar to win at Epsom as well as other top-class horses such as Alamshar, winner of the Irish Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Azamour who won the St James’s Palace Stakes, Irish Champion, Prince of Wales’s and King George.

“It’s very sad news, he was such a great figure in the racing and breeding world for so long, and his family have been at it for almost 100 years now,” Oxx told the PA news agency.

“For us trainers, he had a very positive effect on our lives and careers. Everybody he sent horses to won big races and had some of their best horses because of him, so we’ve a lot to be grateful for.

“He was an easy man to train for, he was always realistic, his geese were never swans – he had hopes of course, like every owner and breeder. He hoped for a top horse every year, but there were plenty of years he didn’t have top horses, like everybody, but he always expected that. He was hopeful rather than expectant.

“I found him an understanding owner and we had a great 25 years together, lots of good times and it was pleasure to train for him.”

Oxx is well aware of how testing racing can be at times and praised the family for their longevity.

“It is a difficult thing to stay in the business that long,” he said.

“To be that successful over decades takes an awful lot of effort. It is very difficult and not many people can keep at it for that long, it wasn’t by accident.

“He did win the French Guineas on numerous occasions and did have the odd speedy horse, but he was trying to breed Classic winners on the whole. He didn’t go in for any sprinters.

“We had two very good ones in Sinndar and Alamshar and we were lucky, they were great horses.

“Alamshar didn’t win at Epsom, but won at the Curragh and won the King George, he was rated 131 and Sinndar was rated 132 and I believe he’s still the only horse to win the English and Irish Derbys and the Arc in the same season, which is a good record to have.

“Alamshar was the same year as Dalakhani, of course, who the Aga Khan also owned and we beat him in the Irish Derby wearing the second colours, but he went on and won the Arc so was rated 1lb higher at the end of the year.

“It was great to have two horses that good and then Azamour came along as well, he was another top one – they were real top-drawer horses.”

Pat Downes, manager of the Irish Studs for the Aga Khan, hailed him as being gracious in victory in defeat.

He said: “It’s obviously a day of reflection and a lot of memories of the last good few years now coming into my head.

“I’ve been with his Highness managing the studs here in Ireland for 27 years, so we’ve had a lot of good days, some not so good days, and that is the nature of the sport we are involved in.

“We have some great memories of some wonderful horses, but also working for a truly great man.

“He was gracious when he won and he was gracious when he didn’t and it’s something I personally always admired, the manner in which he faced victory and defeat. Gracious is exactly the right word.

“I became very aware over the years spending time with him that one of the things that he was proudest of was the generations of his family, going back to his grandfather, that the operation has survived and thrived.

“And we’d like to think it’s in a very good place today, because of him and the way he guided us to look after the things that he felt were most important to the longevity of the operation, which was completely through the broodmares.

“He always felt they were the core from which everything else came – our brief was always to look after the broodmares and the families.”

Downes is confident the operation is in good hands going forward, with the Aga Khan’s daughter Princess Zahra having played a major part in the past success.

He added: “Zahra has been involved for as long as I’ve been here and she is very passionate about the business as well.

“She too shares that sense of history and longevity and she too is very proud of where the operation is today – and we certainly look forward and hope to continue in the same vein.”