Qurrat-al-Ain (IRE)
1927 – c. 1939
Buchan (GB) x Harpsichord (IRE), by Louvois (GB)
Family 5-e
1927 – c. 1939
Buchan (GB) x Harpsichord (IRE), by Louvois (GB)
Family 5-e
Qurrat-al-Ain was a good race filly at 2 and 3, but her accomplishments on the track take second place to what she accomplished as a broodmare. The dam of two Irish Oaks winners during a relatively short breeding career, she is the ancestress of numerous high-level winners in both North America and Europe.
Race record
12 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, £11,092
1929:
1930:
As an individual
A bay filly, Qurrat-al-Ain was considered unusually attractive.
As a producer
Qurrat-al-Ain produced seven foals, all of which started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Qurrat-al-Ain was bred by the noted Irish breeder J. J. Maher. She was owned by His Highness the Aga Khan III, who bought the filly for a sales-topping 12,500 guineas from the 1928 Doncaster yearling sale. Qurrat-al-Ain's last foal, Majideh, was produced in 1939.
Pedigree notes
Qurrat-al-Ain is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1929 Eclipse Stakes winner Royal Minstrel, a successful sire, and to 1934 Dewhurst Stakes winner Hairan (by Fairway). Their dam Harpsichord was a juvenile stakes winner in Ireland and is a half sister to Melpomene (by Son-in-Law), the third dam of 1956 American champion 3-year-old Needles.
Harpsichord is out of Golden Harp, whose sire Llangibby won the 1906 Eclipse Stakes. Golden Harp, in turn, was produced from Goldscleugh, a winning daughter of the good stayer Florizel II (a full brother to Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee) and the Lord Lorne mare Model Queen.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 1, 2023
Race record
12 starts, 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, £11,092
1929:
- Won Queen Mary Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- Won First Spring Two-Year-Old Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- Won Hardwicke Two-Year-Old Plate (ENG, Stockton)
- 2nd Molecomb Stakes (ENG, Goodwood)
- 2nd Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
1930:
- Won Coronation Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot)
- 2nd July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Nassau Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Goodwood)
As an individual
A bay filly, Qurrat-al-Ain was considered unusually attractive.
As a producer
Qurrat-al-Ain produced seven foals, all of which started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Queen of Shiraz (1937, by Bahram) won the 1940 Irish Oaks. She is the dam of 1955 Santa Anita Handicap winner Poona II and 1959 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Sallymount (both by Tudor Minstrel) and the second dam of three Irish Classic winners in 1967 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Atherstone Wood, 1969 Irish St. Leger winner Reindeer and 1970 Irish Guinness Oaks winner Santa Tina. Queen of Shiraz is also the third dam of 1989 Prix Vermeille (FR-G1) winner Young Mother.
- Mabama (1938, by Mahmoud) is the dam of 1951 Newmarket Oaks and Prix de Minerve winner Maitrise (by Atout Maitre), in turn the dam of 1962 Nassau Stakes winner Nortia (by Narrator) and the second dam of 1965 Hardwicke Stakes winner Soderini.
- Majideh (1939, by Mahmoud) won the 1942 Irish One Thousand Guineas and Irish Oaks. She is the dam of 1957 Belmont Stakes winner Gallant Man (by Migoli) and of 1948 English and Irish champion 3-year-old filly Masaka (by Nearco), dam of 1954 Park Hill Stakes winner Bara Bibi (by Bois Roussel) and 1967 International Gold Cup Steeplechase Handicap winner Aquitania (by Ambiorix) and second dam of 1966 French champion miler Silver Shark. Majideh is also the dam of Mehrabi (by Migoli), second dam of 1968 American champion 2-year-old male Top Knight and 1966 Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap winner Stanislas and third dam of 1985 Joe McGrath Irish Sweeps Derby (IRE-G1) winner and two-time Irish champion Law Society, Grade 2 winner Strike Your Colors, and English Group 3 winner Legal Bid. Through other daughters, Majideh is the second dam of 1953 Prix d'Aumale and 1954 Prix de Guiche winner Beigler Bay, 1965 Louisiana Derby winner Dapper Delegate and 1964 Preakness Stakes runner-up The Scoundrel.
Connections
Qurrat-al-Ain was bred by the noted Irish breeder J. J. Maher. She was owned by His Highness the Aga Khan III, who bought the filly for a sales-topping 12,500 guineas from the 1928 Doncaster yearling sale. Qurrat-al-Ain's last foal, Majideh, was produced in 1939.
Pedigree notes
Qurrat-al-Ain is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 1929 Eclipse Stakes winner Royal Minstrel, a successful sire, and to 1934 Dewhurst Stakes winner Hairan (by Fairway). Their dam Harpsichord was a juvenile stakes winner in Ireland and is a half sister to Melpomene (by Son-in-Law), the third dam of 1956 American champion 3-year-old Needles.
Harpsichord is out of Golden Harp, whose sire Llangibby won the 1906 Eclipse Stakes. Golden Harp, in turn, was produced from Goldscleugh, a winning daughter of the good stayer Florizel II (a full brother to Persimmon and Diamond Jubilee) and the Lord Lorne mare Model Queen.
Fun facts
- Qurrat-al-Ain means “apple of my eye” in Arabic.
Last updated: April 1, 2023