Dual Derby hero Harzand will join the roster at the Aga
Khan's Gilltown Stud in County Kildare for the 2017 breeding season standing
alongside his sire Sea the Stars, the champion half-brother to Galileo.
A home bred for the Aga Khan out of the Group III winning Xaar mare Hazariya,
Harzand is a half-brother to several winners including the Group III winner Harasiya.
Trained by Dermot Weld, Harzand made one start as a two-year-old where he
finished fifth in a mile maiden at Gowran Park and then blossomed at three over
ground.
At his seasonal return he defeated Sword Fighter by an impressive 16 lengths at
Cork in a 1m2f maiden and then went on to land the Group III Ballysax Stakes at
Leopardstown.
He sealed his first success at the highest level with a commanding performance
to land the Epsom Derby and followed that with victory in the Irish equivalent
at the end of June.
Pat Smullen declared after Harzand's second Group I victory: "I don't think
I've ever ridden such a courageous horse. I just can't get over his courage in
the last half-furlong. He's so tough and he's not just tough, he's got pace."
Harzand gave his trainer Dermot Weld his first win in the Epsom Derby after his victory in the Irish equivalent Weld commented: ""It was a magnificent race and he showed speed today. The first two improved considerably from Epsom. They just didn't quicken once, they quickened twice."
In a statement, the Aga Khan Studs said: "The Agah Khan Studs are delighted to announce that Harzand will be another exciting new addition to the roster of Gilltown Stud for the 2017 breeding season."
A fee will be announced for Harzand in due course.
