Influential Aga Khan Studs broodmare Asmara dies aged 27

Asmara, one of the most influential members of the Aga Khan Studs broodmare band, has died peacefully at the age of 27.

The daughter of Lear Fan was bred by the Aga Khan by sending his Listed-winning Darshaan mare Anaza, also the dam of Prix Ganay scorer and sire Astarabad, to Lear Fan.

Asmara upheld her brilliant breeding in her racing career with John Oxx, taking the Listed Trigo Stakes and running second in the Diamond Stakes and third in the Athasi Stakes.

The mare also passed on her talent once retired to paddocks, producing eight winners from 11 live foals.

Her most notable offspring was her fourth produce, Azamour. The son of Night Shift was sent out by Oxx to win the St James’s Palace Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes at three and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at four.

Azamour also finished second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and third in the 2,000 Guineas, Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf, while at the Aga’s Gilltown Stud he sired Classic winners Covert Love and Valyra and other Group 1 winners including Best Of Days and Dolniya.

Asmara also produced the Futurity Stakes winner and National Stakes third Arazan to Anabaa and the Desmond Stakes third Ahsanabad, later known as Surveyor in Hong Kong, to Muhtarram.

The mare’s name was back in lights in recent seasons as her unraced Galileo daughter Azmiyna, sent to be bred from in Australia in a joint-venture by the Aga Khan Studs and Arrowfield Stud, produced five-time Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun after a mating with Redoute’s Choice.

The Autumn Sun is now an in-demand young stallion at Arrowfield Stud.

Asmara produced her last foal, an unraced filly by Sea The Stars named Azama, in 2011, after which she was retired from breeding.