Vazirabad (Manduro) is a wonderfully consistent performer, finishing out of the first two just twice in 17 starts, and on Sunday, 10 September he recorded an outstanding tenth Group win when taking the G3 Prix Gladiateur for the second straight year.
Settled in his customary position towards the rear of the field, the five-year-old loomed up as they entered the home straight and despite jinking slightly close to home, he stayed on to win by three quarters of a length.
Vazirabad is now the best male racehorse in the world by number of Group wins since 2015 and is second only to the Darley-sired duo Winx (Street Cry) and Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the overall standings.
Vazirabad won his first Group race in September 2015, landing the G3 Prix du Lutece before taking the G2 Prix Chaudenay and then the G1 Prix Royal-Oak the same year. Last year he won the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, the Prix Gladiateur and the G1 Prix Royal-Oak for the second time. He took the Dubai Gold Cup again this year en route to a repeat win in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier on his last start.
Owned and bred by HH The Aga Khan, Vazirabad is a son of the G3-winning mare Visorama (Linamix) and a half-brother to the Stakes winner Visoriyna.
Manduro, the brilliant Horse of the Year and Timeform world Champion, has sired six G1 winners including French top-flight juvenile scorers Ultra and Mandaean and top fillies Ribbons and Charity Line.
