Behkabad

Behkabad (foaled 21 March 2007) is a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 2009 he was undefeated in three races including the Group 3 Prix des Chênes. In the following spring he lost his unbeaten record in the Prix Omnium II but then took the Prix de Guiche. He rebounded from a disappointing effort in the Prix du Jockey Club to win the Grand Prix de Paris and then returned in autumn to win the Prix Niel. Later that year he finished fourth when favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and ran third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. After finishing second on his only race as a four-year-old he was retired from racing and exported to become a breeding stallion in Japan. Background Behkabad is a dark bay or brown horse bred in France by his owner Aga Khan IV. The colt was sent into training with Jean-Claude Rouget and was ridden in all but three of his races by Christophe Lemaire. He was sired by Cape Cross a leading miler who won the Lockinge Stakes in 1998 and the Queen Anne Stakes in the following year. As a breeding stallion Cape Cross, who stands at the Kildangan Stud in County Kildare has had considerable success, being the sire of Ouija Board, Sea the Stars, Golden Horn and Able One. Behkabad's dam Behkara was a top-class staying mare who won the Prix Chaudenay and finished second in the Prix Royal-Oak. She was in turn a daughter of Behera an even better racemare who won the Prix Saint-Alary and ran second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Behera was descended from the French broodmare Astana (foaled 1956) who was the ancestor of many major winners including Laurens, Daylami and Dalakhani. Racing career