Siyouni and Sea The Stars have been given career-high fees of €200,000 for 2024, with both Aga Khan Studs sires having enjoyed another strong year.
Siyouni, who stood for €150,000 in the 2023 breeding season at the Aga's Haras de Bonneval in France, is the second-leading sire in Europe by prize money this year, behind Frankel .
He began with a sensational classic double, with Paddington and Tahiyra winning the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1), respectively—and both 3-year-olds continued to light up the flat season, notching an additional five group 1 victories between them.
In France, Mqse de Sevigne won two group 1s during the summer in Deauville, and in Australia, Amelia's Jewel blitzed an extraordinary trail of group-race success.
Siyouni also continues to be one of the most in-demand sires in the sales ring, with his yearlings in 2023 fetching up to €2.2 million.
Sea The Stars, who stands at the Aga's Gilltown Stud base in Ireland and was pitched at €180,000 this year, has been represented by four group 1 winners in 2023, among them Hukum, one of the highest-rated horses on the planet.
With more than 110 stakes winners and 21 group 1 winners to his name, and 12% lifetime stakes winners to runners, Sea The Stars is an undeniably reliable source of star performers.
He is also a notable broodmare sire, with five top-level winners to his name, including recent grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner Unquestionable.
With his 2-year-olds this season including Fillies' Mile (G1) third See The Fire, as well as fellow black-type performers Aventure, Macduff, and Sosie, there is also much to look forward to in 2024.
Zarak has supplied stakes winners at an eye-popping strike rate since his first crop, conceived at €12,000, hit the track in 2021. His first two crops have produced six group 1 horses, including 2023 group 1 winner Zagrey, and his third crop—2-year-olds of 2023—feature the likes of group 3 winner Shagara, and group-placed Zaphod and Saganti.
His yearlings of 2024 will be his first crop conceived at an increased fee following his significant early success, and he remains at €60,000 for 2024, standing alongside Siyouni.
Vadeni also joins the roster at Haras de Bonneval as a Cartier champion 3-year-old, the record-breaking winner of the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) and the first French horse in 60 years to win the Eclipse Stakes (G1). His opening fee has been set at €18,000.
Erevann is another new recruit to Bonneval and boasts an attractive profile as a son of sire of sires Dubawi and Siyouni's multiple group 1-winning daughter Ervedya.
The winner of the Prix Daniel Wildenstein (G2) starts out at €8,000.
Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: "With two internationally proven leading sires, one rapidly rising star and two exciting new stallions to offer breeders in 2024, we go into next year with as strong a roster as we have ever had."
