An exceptionally handsome gray horse, Daylami made a pretty picture indeed as he charged home to victory in the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1), concluding his racing career in magnificent style. The winner of Grade/Group 1 stakes in four different countries that year, he was a champion on both sides of the Atlantic. Unfortunately, he was nowhere near as successful a stallion as he was a racehorse.
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$4,614,762 (includes converted earnings from England, France, and Ireland)
1996:
1997:
1998:
1999:
Honors
Assessments
Highweighted in France among 3-year-old males over 7-9.5 furlongs in 1997.
Highweighted in England among males aged 4 and up over 9.5-11 furlongs in 1998 and 1999.
Rated at 123 pounds on the 1998 International Classifications, 8 pounds below overall highweight Skip Away.
Highweighted in England among males aged 4 and up over 11-14 furlongs in 1999.
Highweighted in Ireland among males aged 4 and up over 9.5-11 furlongs in 1999.
Co-highweighted with Montjeu on the 1999 International Classifications at 135 pounds.
Earned a Timeform rating of 138 pounds in 1999.
As an individual
A powerful gray horse, Daylami stood 17 hands. He was known for his strong finishing kick.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Daylami sired 323 winners (45.3%) and 14 stakes winners (2.0%) from 713 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Ebazivam (IRE), Grey Swallow (IRE), Royal Mougins (IRE), Voila Ici (IRE), Zaynar (FR)
Notable progeny of daughters
Logician (GB)
Connections
Bred and owned by the Aga Khan IV (who also bred Daylami’s sire and dam), Daylami was originally trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. He was bought by the Maktoum family’s Godolphin Stables at the end of his 3-year-old season and was transferred to the yard of Saeed bin Suroor. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup win by Frankie Dettori. Under the terms of a partnership between Darley (the Maktoum family’s breeding operation) and the Aga Khan, Daylami entered stud in 2000 at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Ireland and stood there through 2005. He spent the 2006 season at the Aga Khan’s French stud, Haras de Bonneval, and in November of that year was sold to South Africa’s Riethuiskraal Stud. In 2010, he returned to Ireland to finish his stud career at Coolagown Stud in County Cork. He was pensioned in 2014 and was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age on April 5, 2023.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1988 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Doyoun, Daylami is inbred 4x5 to two-time American champion sire Princequillo, winner of the 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He is a full brother to Daltaiyma, dam of 2006 Prix de la Grotte (FR-G3) winner Daltaya (by Anabaa), second dam of 2013 Prix de l’Opera (FR-G1) winner Dalkala, and third dam of multiple Australian Group 2 winner Four Moves Ahead and Australian Group 3 winner Emeralds. Daylami is a half brother to 2003 European Horse of the Year Dalakhani (by Darshaan), to 2015 American champion steeplechaser Dawalan (by Azamour), to 2010 Prix du Palais-Royal (FR-G3) winner Dalghar (by Anabaa), and to French listed stakes winner Daymarti (by Caerleon). Daylami is also a half brother to Dalataya (by Sadler’s Wells), second dam of two-time Spanish champion White King; to Dalmiya (by Kalanisi), dam of 2013 Prix de Guiche (FR-G3) winner Dalwari (by More Than Ready); and to Daltama (by Indian Ridge), dam of 2015 Dubai Shema Classic (UAE-G1) winner Dolniya (by Azamour) and second dam of French Group 3 winner Dilawar and Australian Group 3 winner Interpretation.
Daylami and his siblings were produced from French listed stakes winner Daltawa, whose half sister Damerela (by Alzao) is the dam of multiple hurdle stakes winner Strangely Brown (by Second Empire). Daltawa is also a half sister to Dame Again (by Danehill), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Aces Again (by Ghostzapper) and of multiple hurdle stakes winner N’Golo (by Galileo).
Daltawa, in turn, is out of Damana, a stakes-placed daughter of 1977 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Crystal Palace and a half sister to French listed stakes winner Dastaan (by Arctic Tern). Produced from the Crepello mare Denia (a half sister to Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Raykour, by Dalsaan), Damana is also a half sister to Denizliya (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of Irish listed stakes winner Deynawari (by Doyoun) and the stakes-winning hurdler Derawar (by Kahyasi), and to Dedara (by Head for Heights), second dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Mariol.
Books and media
A video of Daylami’s win in the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bTpE1TBeo8.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 23, 2026
Race record
21 starts, 11 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds, US$4,614,762 (includes converted earnings from England, France, and Ireland)
1996:
- 2nd Criterium de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1, 2000mT, Saint-Cloud)
1997:
- Won Dubai Poule d'Essai des Poulains-French Two Thousand Guineas (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix de Fontainebleau (FR-G3, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1, 1600mT, Deauville)
- 3rd Emirates Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Ascot)
1998:
- Won Man o’War Stakes (USA-G1, 11FT, Belmont)
- Won Coral-Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1, about 10FT, Sandown)
- Won Tattersalls Gold Cup (IRE-G2, 10.5FT, The Curragh)
- 3rd Dubai Champion Stakes (ENG-G1, about 10FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG-G2, about 10FT, Ascot)
1999:
- Won Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1, 12FT, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Vodafone Coronation Cup (ENG-G1, 12F+10yT, Epsom)
- Won King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (ENG-G1, about 12FT, Ascot)
- Won Esat Digifone Champion Stakes (IRE-G1, 10FT, Phoenix Park)
- 2nd Tattersalls Gold Cup (IRE-G1, 10.5FT, The Curragh)
Honors
- Cartier Award, European Horse of the Year (1999)
- Cartier Award, European champion older horse (1999)
- Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (1999)
Assessments
Highweighted in France among 3-year-old males over 7-9.5 furlongs in 1997.
Highweighted in England among males aged 4 and up over 9.5-11 furlongs in 1998 and 1999.
Rated at 123 pounds on the 1998 International Classifications, 8 pounds below overall highweight Skip Away.
Highweighted in England among males aged 4 and up over 11-14 furlongs in 1999.
Highweighted in Ireland among males aged 4 and up over 9.5-11 furlongs in 1999.
Co-highweighted with Montjeu on the 1999 International Classifications at 135 pounds.
Earned a Timeform rating of 138 pounds in 1999.
As an individual
A powerful gray horse, Daylami stood 17 hands. He was known for his strong finishing kick.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Daylami sired 323 winners (45.3%) and 14 stakes winners (2.0%) from 713 named foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Ebazivam (IRE), Grey Swallow (IRE), Royal Mougins (IRE), Voila Ici (IRE), Zaynar (FR)
Notable progeny of daughters
Logician (GB)
Connections
Bred and owned by the Aga Khan IV (who also bred Daylami’s sire and dam), Daylami was originally trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. He was bought by the Maktoum family’s Godolphin Stables at the end of his 3-year-old season and was transferred to the yard of Saeed bin Suroor. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup win by Frankie Dettori. Under the terms of a partnership between Darley (the Maktoum family’s breeding operation) and the Aga Khan, Daylami entered stud in 2000 at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Ireland and stood there through 2005. He spent the 2006 season at the Aga Khan’s French stud, Haras de Bonneval, and in November of that year was sold to South Africa’s Riethuiskraal Stud. In 2010, he returned to Ireland to finish his stud career at Coolagown Stud in County Cork. He was pensioned in 2014 and was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age on April 5, 2023.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1988 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Doyoun, Daylami is inbred 4x5 to two-time American champion sire Princequillo, winner of the 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He is a full brother to Daltaiyma, dam of 2006 Prix de la Grotte (FR-G3) winner Daltaya (by Anabaa), second dam of 2013 Prix de l’Opera (FR-G1) winner Dalkala, and third dam of multiple Australian Group 2 winner Four Moves Ahead and Australian Group 3 winner Emeralds. Daylami is a half brother to 2003 European Horse of the Year Dalakhani (by Darshaan), to 2015 American champion steeplechaser Dawalan (by Azamour), to 2010 Prix du Palais-Royal (FR-G3) winner Dalghar (by Anabaa), and to French listed stakes winner Daymarti (by Caerleon). Daylami is also a half brother to Dalataya (by Sadler’s Wells), second dam of two-time Spanish champion White King; to Dalmiya (by Kalanisi), dam of 2013 Prix de Guiche (FR-G3) winner Dalwari (by More Than Ready); and to Daltama (by Indian Ridge), dam of 2015 Dubai Shema Classic (UAE-G1) winner Dolniya (by Azamour) and second dam of French Group 3 winner Dilawar and Australian Group 3 winner Interpretation.
Daylami and his siblings were produced from French listed stakes winner Daltawa, whose half sister Damerela (by Alzao) is the dam of multiple hurdle stakes winner Strangely Brown (by Second Empire). Daltawa is also a half sister to Dame Again (by Danehill), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Aces Again (by Ghostzapper) and of multiple hurdle stakes winner N’Golo (by Galileo).
Daltawa, in turn, is out of Damana, a stakes-placed daughter of 1977 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Crystal Palace and a half sister to French listed stakes winner Dastaan (by Arctic Tern). Produced from the Crepello mare Denia (a half sister to Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Raykour, by Dalsaan), Damana is also a half sister to Denizliya (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of Irish listed stakes winner Deynawari (by Doyoun) and the stakes-winning hurdler Derawar (by Kahyasi), and to Dedara (by Head for Heights), second dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Mariol.
Books and media
A video of Daylami’s win in the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bTpE1TBeo8.
Fun facts
- Daylami refers to someone from an ethnic group that once inhabited the Daylam highlands of northwestern Iran. It also refers to the extinct language spoken by that people group.
Last updated: July 23, 2026