Kahyasi

Kahyasi
Second colours of the Aga Khan, carried by Kahyasi in the Derby.
Sire	Ile de Bourbon
Grandsire	Nijinsky
Dam	Kadissya
Damsire	Blushing Groom
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	2 April 1985
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	HH Aga Khan IV
Owner	HH Aga Khan IV
Trainer	Luca Cumani
Record	7: 5-1-0
Earnings	£627,800
Major wins
Lingfield Derby Trial (1988) Epsom Derby (1988) Irish Derby (1988)
Last updated on 16 June 2008

Kahyasi (2 April 1985 – 2008) was an Irish-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the first five races of his seven-race career, including the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby as a three-year-old in 1988.

Kahyasi was a small, dark-coated bay horse bred by his owner HH Aga Khan IV at his stud in Ireland. His sire, Ile de Bourbon, was best known for his win in the 1978 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Kahyasi was trained by Luca Cumani at his Bedford House stable Newmarket, Suffolk during his racing career and was ridden in all his races by Ray Cochrane.

Kayasi won the Soham House Stakes at Newmarket in his only race as a two-year-old in 1987. Although the race was a minor one, Ray Cochrane later explained that he and Cumani were "excited" about the colt, and considered him a Derby prospect.

Kahyasi made his three-year-old debut in the Harvester Stakes at Sandown in April. He started the 2/5 favourite and won by two lengths from his five opponents, to whom he was conceding five pounds. On his next start two weeks later he was moved up to Group Three class for the Lingfield Derby Trial. He again started odds-on favourite and won by two lengths from Insan.

At Epsom on 1 June, Kahyasi started 11/1 fifth favourite in a field of fourteen for the 209th running of the Epsom Derby. He carried the Aga Khan's chocolate and green second colours, with the first colours being worn by Walter Swinburn on the 2000 Guineas winner Doyoun. Kahyasi broke slowly and was held up by Cochrane in the early stages before making steady progress in the straight. He was switched to the outside to take the lead a furlong from the finish and ran on well to win by one and a half lengths from Glacial Storm, with Doyoun third. At the end of the month, Kahyasi started odds-on favourite for the Irish Derby at the Curragh. He appeared to be struggling at half way and was still well behind entering the straight. Under a strong ride from Cochrane, he caught the long-time leader Insan in the last strides to win by a short head. It was subsequently revealed that he had been struck into by another horse during the race and had won despite sustaining a leg injury.