Zarigana to Visit Justify for Maiden Cover as Aga Khan Studs Reveal Mating Plans

[Wandering Eyes]

Mating plans for some of the illustrious names at the Aga Khan Studs have been revealed, with Zarigana, the winner of last year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, set to visit Justify for her maiden cover in 2026, while the four-time Group 1 scorer Tahiyra goes to Frankel.

Tahiyra and Zarigana are both Classic-winning daughters of Siyouni, who will reportedly receive an increased number of around 30 mares from the Aga Khan Studs due to the injury to Zarak which has temporarily sidelined him from covering duties. Among them is another winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in 2024 heroine Rouhiya (Lope De Vega), whose first foal, born on February 15, is a filly by Sea The Stars.

Others booked in to visit Siyouni include Alaiya (Sea The Stars), the dam of the G2 Solonway Stakes winner Alakazi (Footstepsinthesand); Azmaniya, a Deep Impact half-sister to the multiple Group 1-winning sire The Autumn Sun; Baiykara (Zarak), a Group-winning half-sister to last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf scorer Balantina (Ten Sovereigns); Candarliya (Dalakhani), the multiple Group 2-winning dam of last year's Prix de Diane third Cankoura (Persian King); Darylakha, a Lope De Vega half-sister to Arc hero Daryz (Sea The Stars); and Narmeen (Le Havre), who has already produced last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Narissa by Siyouni.

At Gilltown Stud, Sea The Stars is the mating of choice for the Oaks winner Ezeliya (Dubawi), who recently produced her first foal, a filly by Justify. Sea The Stars will also receive Zarka (Dubawi), a full-sister to Zarak out of champion Zarkava (Zamindar), and Dariyza (Dawn Approach), a stakes-winning half-sister to Daryz.

Meanwhile, foals already on the ground from the second crop of Vadeni include a colt out of the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Ridasiyna (Motivator), the dam of last year's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein victor Ridari (Churchill).

Among Vadeni's book of mares in 2026 will be the stakes scorer Canndera, a Dalakhani half-sister to last year's G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier winner Candelari (Frankel); Baiyouna (Sea The Stars), a winning half-sister to the G1 Secretariat Stakes hero Bayrir (Medicean); Reynira (Lope De Vega), a black-type producer whose half-sister produced Rouhiya; Dubawi's dual Group 3 winner Tanaza; the Group 3-placed Etneya, a Siyouni half-sister to the dam of Ezeliya; and Baiyka (Lope De Vega), a half-sister to Balantina.

Elsewhere, the aforementioned Ridasiyna will visit Erevann, whose first crop are also yearlings this year. Azmiyna (Galileo), dam of The Autumn Sun, is another choice Aga Khan mare heading to Erevann, along with Candara (Barathea), the dam of four stakes winners, including Candelari, and Vaderana (Monsun), the dam of Vadeni.

Other high-profile mares visiting outside stallions this year include Daryz's Group 2-winning half-sister Darkaniya (Frankel), who visits Dubawi; Rondonia (Raven's Pass), who goes back to Lope De Vega in a repeat of the mating that produced Rouhiya; and the multiple Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Shamardal), who joins Zarigana on the trip across the Atlantic to visit Justify.

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