26 Facts About Daylami

Daylami was a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse and sire who was bred in Ireland, but trained in France, Dubai and the United Kingdom.

Daltawa, from whom Daylami inherited his grey coat, was the dam of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Dalakhani.

Daylami was a member of one of the families established by Marcel Boussac and eventually acquired by the Aga Khan.

Daylami was first sent into training with Alain de Royer-Dupre at Chantilly.

Daylami reversed the Ascot form with Starborough in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, but was beaten decisively by the four-year-old Spinning World.

Daylami was a beaten favourite on his next run at Royal Ascot, when he finished third to his stable companion Faithful Son in the Group Two Prince of Wales's Stakes, but there were excuses for his defeat, as Dettori had been unable to find space for a clear run at a crucial stage in a race that was described as "one big bump".

Daylami reversed the form with Faithful Son at level weights to record his most valuable win so far in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown two and a half weeks later.

The form of the race was not particularly strong however, with Daylami being the only runner to have previously won a Group One event in Britain, France or Ireland.

In September 1998, Daylami was sent to the US for the Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park.

Daylami raced close behind the leaders for most of the way, before being switched to the outside in the straight.

Daylami produced a strong late run to catch Buck's Boy in the closing stages and win by one and a quarter lengths.

Daylami however, was still improving and in 1999 he had his best season in terms of wins and prize money.

Daylami was then made favourite for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, which had been promoted to Group One level, but after taking the lead in the straight, he was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten two and a half lengths by the Japanese-bred filly Shiva.

Daylami had been expected to run in the Eclipse Stakes but was withdrawn from the race when his trainer decided that Daylami "needed more time".

Daylami continued to attract attention however, when beating the Group One winner Central Park by eight lengths in a "sparkling" exercise trial.

Daylami ran next in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in which he produced what was probably his best performance.

Daylami's performance was given a figure of 136 by the official handicapper, the third highest recorded in Europe in the 1990s, behind only Generous and Peintre Celebre.

Daylami made no impression in the race and was eased down by Dettori in the straight, eventually finishing ninth behind Montjeu.

Daylami was always running prominently, and was moved up to third behind Buck's Boy and Royal Anthem entering the straight.

Daylami produced a powerful late run to take the lead inside the final furlong and stayed on strongly to win by two and a half lengths from Royal Anthem with Buck's Boy third.

In January 2000, Daylami was awarded the titles of Horse of the Year and Top Older Horse at the Cartier Racing Awards.

Daylami earned his owners a $1,000,000 prize as the winner of the inaugural World Series Racing Championship, a competition in which points were awarded for performances in nine major international middle-distance races.

Daylami was given a Timeform rating of 138, making him the equal of Nijinsky and Cigar.

In 2010 Daylami returned to Ireland to join Coolagown Stud, near Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.

Daylami sired the winners of more than four hundred races.

Daylami was pensioned in 2014 and was euthanized on 5 April 2023 due to infirmities of old age.