Aga Khan

Born: Dec. 13, 1936
Residence: Aiglemont, at Gouvieux, Chantilly, France. He also has homes in England and Italy (Sardinia, where he has developed a holiday center) ... He holds a British passport
Family: two sons, Princes Rahim and Hussain, and one daughter, Princess Zahra, from his first marriage
Education: Raised in Kenya and Switzerland, studied Islamic history at Harvard
Professional Background: He inherited the role of spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect of Shia Muslims from his grandfather Aga Khan III in 1957. He is a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad and the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims ... He runs the Aga Khan Foundation, a business and philanthropic empire, from Aiglemont. It is particularly active in Pakistan, Tajikistan and the countries of East Africa (mainly Kenya and Tanzania) where the Ismaili Muslims are concentrated ... In the 2007 Sunday Times Rich List was rated the 51st richest person in Britain with a fortune estimated at $2.45 billion ... His business interests include an airline, a newspaper, hotels, factories and 43 prayer and business centers in Britain. His personal assets include three jets, five yachts, homes on five continents and a priceless collection of jewels and antiques
Racing Background: He is the son of Prince Aly Khan, whose bloodstock he inherited in 1960 ... He showed little initial interest but the victory of Charlottesville in the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) converted him ... Won the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf with Lashkari and registered a second Breeders' Cup Turf with Kalanisi in 2000 ... He has won most of Europe's big races, including the Epsom Derby four times, three King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, three Dubai Champion Stakes, five Irish Derbys, two Irish Oaks, three Irish Champion Stakes, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe three times, the Prix du Jockey-Club five times and the Prix de Diane four times
Breeding/Racing Operation: In recent years, his horses have been divided between Alain de Royer-Dupre at Aiglemont, John Oxx at the Curragh in Ireland, and Sir Michael Stoute at Newmarket in England ... He purchased the bloodstock of the late Jean-Luc Lagardere at the end of 2004; the horses in training were left under the tutelage of Andre Fabre until Jan. 2008 when that association parted ways … The Aga has extended his operation in this way before, buying the complete bloodstock of Marcel Boussac and Francois Dupre ... Excluding horses from these recent bulk purchases, almost all his success has been gained with homebreds with the significant exception of Blushing Groom, whom he bought as a foal ... His breeding interests are based principally at the Haras de Bonneval in France and Gilltown Stud in Ireland ... Daylami won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains in the Aga's colors in 1997 but was racing for Godolphin when he won the Breeders' Cup Turf in 1999. However, the Aga, who has thus bred three winners of the Breeders' Cup Turf, retained ownership of the horse's stallion career ... Was champion owner in France in 2005 and is currently leading the title race again, just in front of Juddmonte Farms ... On the course, his recent big race achievements have been provided by Darjina, owned by his daughter, Princesse Zahra. Darjina has won three group 1 races this season, the most recent being the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September ... His only group 1 success this year has come via Zarkava in the Prix Marcel Boussac.