Lashkari (GB)
April 3, 1981 – December 25, 1996
Mill Reef (USA) x Larannda (FR), by Right Royal (FR)
Family 5-e
April 3, 1981 – December 25, 1996
Mill Reef (USA) x Larannda (FR), by Right Royal (FR)
Family 5-e
A Group 2 winner in France, Lashkari was not expected to be more than a bit player in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf, which had a star-studded field that included 1983 American Horse of the Year and champion turf horse All Along, Australian and German champion Strawberry Road, and 1982 Kentucky Derby winner Gato del Sol. He defied his 108-1 odds by running down All Along by a neck. After running fourth the following year in an attempt at a repeat victory in the Turf, he retired to stud, where he proved a disappointment.
Race record
13 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,127,658
1984:
1985:
Assessments
Rated at 138 pounds on the 1984 European Free Handicap for 3-year-olds over 11+ furlongs, 5 pounds below highweighted Darshaan.
Earned a Timeform rating of 128 pounds as a 3-year-old.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1984, 11 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year John Henry.
As an individual
A lengthy, handsome dark bay or brown horse standing 16.1 hands, Lashkari had fluent action and fine acceleration and could act on any footing. He was a determined performer when racing.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by the Jockey Club, Lashkari sired 127 winners (40.8%) and 7 stakes winners (2.3%) from 311 named foals of racing age. His best runner was probably Erdelistan, winner of the 1990 Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d’Oro (ITY-G1). Lashkari had one outstanding performer among four stakes winners as a broodmare sire, 2000 European champion 3-year-old male Sinndar.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Erdelistan (FR)
Notable progeny of daughters
Sinndar (IRE)
Connections
Lashkari was bred and owned by the fourth Aga Khan. He was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup triumph by Yves Saint-Martin. He entered stud in France at the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneville in 1986. He died in December 1996.
Pedigree notes
Lashkari is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten champion Nearco, a two-time leader of the English/Irish general sire list, and 4x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. Lashkari is also inbred 5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 5x5 to Nearco’s sire Pharos, a champion sire in England and France.
Lashkari is the only foal of importance produced from the winner Larannda, whose sire, Right Royal (often seen in pedigrees as Right Royal V) was the French champion juvenile male of 1960 and the English Horse of the Year of 1961. A half sister to French stakes winner Zaramann (by Riboccare), Larannda is out of Morning Calm, by 1957 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Crepello.
Produced from 1953 Park Hill Stakes winner Bara Bibi (a daughter of 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel out of 1948 English and Irish Oaks winner Masaka), Morning Calm is a full sister to Gioia, dam of French stakes winner Kalkeen (by Sheshoon), second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Karkisya, and third dam of 1988 Ever Ready Derby (ENG-G1) and Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Kahyasi, 1996 Yorkshire Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Key Change, Grade 2 winner Kadial, and Group 3 winners Kalajana, Kaliana, Khalafiya, Kithanga, and Sina Cova.
Books and media
Footage of Lashkari’s win in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcguPQkOh1Q.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 23, 2026
Race record
13 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,127,658
1984:
- Won Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1, 12FT, Hollywood)
- Won Prix du Conseil de Paris (FR-G2, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix du Lys (FR-G3, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix de l’Avre (FR-L, 2400mT, Longchamp)
1985:
- 2nd Grand Prix de Deauville (FR-G2, 2700mT, Deauville)
- 3rd Prix d’Hedouville (FR-G3, 2400mT, Longchamp)
Assessments
Rated at 138 pounds on the 1984 European Free Handicap for 3-year-olds over 11+ furlongs, 5 pounds below highweighted Darshaan.
Earned a Timeform rating of 128 pounds as a 3-year-old.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1984, 11 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year John Henry.
As an individual
A lengthy, handsome dark bay or brown horse standing 16.1 hands, Lashkari had fluent action and fine acceleration and could act on any footing. He was a determined performer when racing.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by the Jockey Club, Lashkari sired 127 winners (40.8%) and 7 stakes winners (2.3%) from 311 named foals of racing age. His best runner was probably Erdelistan, winner of the 1990 Gran Premio del Jockey Club e Coppa d’Oro (ITY-G1). Lashkari had one outstanding performer among four stakes winners as a broodmare sire, 2000 European champion 3-year-old male Sinndar.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 2000.
- 2nd on the French broodmare sire list in 2000.
Notable progeny
Erdelistan (FR)
Notable progeny of daughters
Sinndar (IRE)
Connections
Lashkari was bred and owned by the fourth Aga Khan. He was trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup triumph by Yves Saint-Martin. He entered stud in France at the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneville in 1986. He died in December 1996.
Pedigree notes
Lashkari is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten champion Nearco, a two-time leader of the English/Irish general sire list, and 4x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. Lashkari is also inbred 5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II and 5x5 to Nearco’s sire Pharos, a champion sire in England and France.
Lashkari is the only foal of importance produced from the winner Larannda, whose sire, Right Royal (often seen in pedigrees as Right Royal V) was the French champion juvenile male of 1960 and the English Horse of the Year of 1961. A half sister to French stakes winner Zaramann (by Riboccare), Larannda is out of Morning Calm, by 1957 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Crepello.
Produced from 1953 Park Hill Stakes winner Bara Bibi (a daughter of 1938 Derby Stakes winner Bois Roussel out of 1948 English and Irish Oaks winner Masaka), Morning Calm is a full sister to Gioia, dam of French stakes winner Kalkeen (by Sheshoon), second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Karkisya, and third dam of 1988 Ever Ready Derby (ENG-G1) and Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Kahyasi, 1996 Yorkshire Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Key Change, Grade 2 winner Kadial, and Group 3 winners Kalajana, Kaliana, Khalafiya, Kithanga, and Sina Cova.
Books and media
Footage of Lashkari’s win in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcguPQkOh1Q.
Fun facts
- Lashkari was named for a city in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.
- The 108-1 odds Lashkari carried in his Breeders’ Cup Turf win were not surpassed in Breeders’ Cup history until Arcangues stormed home in the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Classic at odds of 133.60-1.
- Lashkari became the namesake for a turf stakes race at Aqueduct.
Last updated: May 23, 2026