ENGLISH TEXTS son of Dubawi; a stallion who needs no introduction, Ghaiyyath is out of the Galileo mare Nightime who won the 1000 Irish Guineas for Dermot Weld before going on to have 11 foals with 8 of them winning and four gaining black type. Ghaiyyath was the best of these winning a Group three at 2-year-old at Newmarket in the Masar Godolphin Autumn stakes. It then was another 11 months before we saw him on the racecourse again at three winning the Prix d’ orange a race that has thrown up many a good stallion over the years. Ghaiyyath showed plenty of ability, but his size meant he needed time and another 8 months before he ran again at four was needed. He was kept to an international campaign then having his next five starts abroad in France, Germany and Meydan winning three of then including a breakthrough group 1 in Germany; the Grosser Preis von Baden over a mile and a half. A disappoint defeat in the Prix Arc de triomphe led to 4 race win streak domination from Meydan in the Group 3 Dubai Millennium stakes to taking on the best in Europe leaving stars like Enable and Magical in his wake when winning the group 1 Eclipse and Juddmonte international resulting in a career high mark of 130 and a horse of the year award. In his first year with runners in 2024, Ghaiyyath was abit of a slow starter with gaining winners from his first crop of runners but that was always to be expected as he didn’ t win himself until the autumn period as a two-yearold. Only one two-year-old gained black type placed with Stanhope Gardens 2 nd in a race his father won the Group 3 Autumn stakes. It was Mandanaba who broke that trend for her sire when making it two from two by 3 quarters of a length in one of the prep races for the French oaks. She showed there was an engine when winning her debut at Chantilly last November over 1900 meters on the PSF by 6 lengths under newly retained rider Mickel Barzalona. She led from the start and quickened away effortlessly under hands and heels showing no signs of greenness on her debut. It was a taking performance which obviously promoted them to roll the dice and let her run next time in the Group three. Against five other rivals including a listed winner for Juddmonte Flaming Stone and Gezora the new stable companion of Mandanaba having been bought by White Birth farm from haras de etreham after winning Prix des resivoirs group three she was going to have to improve to win this. If it isn’ t broke don’ t fix it, and that’ s exactly what Barzalona must have been thinking as she broke from the gates like a proven handicapper and went straight to the lead. It looked straight forward for Mandanaba who quickened up very smartly in the home straight to win officially by three quarters of a length from Flaming stone with stable mate a further three and a half lengths back in third. However, I believe this performance could be upgraded because she once again showed how professional she is, not wandering around in the finish when being driven out especially when she was tiring ever so slightly before the line. It’ s a race with a good roll of honor as well; being won by some very good horses in the past most recently Mqse de Sevigne who rattled off a four timer last year, three of them in group ones. In the year that her father Prince Karim al Husseini who was known as the Aga Kahn the fourth passed away in February, it is very poinentent that his oldest daughter Zahra who now runs the Aga Kahn studs and racing team has a leading hope for the classics running in her own colors. With her father having the record for the most Prix de Diane wins in the history of the race there is a sense that, this is meant to be with Mandanaba who was also bred by Princess Zahra could go on and land the prestigious race. Her biggest win so far came from her Group one filly Mandesha who was a three-time group one winner including winning the Prix d l’ opera and prix Vermeille who happens to be the dam of Mandanaba. Madnesha has produced 11 foals most recently Mandanaba who other than her
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