Rayif
| Rayif | |
|---|---|
 Racing Silks of Aga Khan | |
| Breed | Thoroughbred |
| Sire | Sea The Moon |
| Grandsire | Sea The Stars |
| Dam | Rayisa |
| Damsire | Holy Roman Emperor |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 12 January 2023 (age 3) |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Owner | Aga Khan Studs SCEA |
| Trainer | Francis-Henri Graffard |
| Record | 7: 4-0-2 |
| Earnings | £1,035,060 |
| Major wins | |
| Poule d'Essai des Poulains (2026) Prix Jacques le Marois (2026) | |
| Last updated on 16 August 2026 | |
Rayif (foaled 12 January 2023) is an active French-bred thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2026 French 2000 Guineas race Poule d'Essai des Poulains and 2026 Prix Jacques Le Marois.
Background
Rayif was bred by the Aga Khan stud in Ireland and was foaled on 12 January 2023. Rayif was sired by Sea The Moon winner of the 2014 Deutsches Derby and grandsire Sea the Stars, a champion racehorse who won 2009 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. His dam Rayisa a Listed winner and damsire was Holy Roman Emperor.
Rayif is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for owner Aga Khan Studs, a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding enterprise that has been owned by the Aga Khan family.
Racing career
2025 : two-year-old season
Rayif was debuted at Deauville racecourse on 5 July. Ride by Mickael Barzalona, he won the race by a neck against No Remorse.
His next race was The Aga Khan Studs Prix Francois Boutin, a Gr.3 race on 17 August, at Deauville racecourse. After the gate opened, he was positioned at the back, tracking behind Laureate Crown. At 500m, he started his move outside and passed Laureate Crown at the 400m mark and kept his stride until he took the lead with less than 250m. He then won the race 2 +1⁄2 lengths in front of Andab. That was Rayif's first Group stakes win.
On 5 October, Rayif then entered the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère a Gr.1 race in Longchamp and an undercard race for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Ride by Barzalona, he was the favorite to win the race. After the gate opened, he was positioned near the back behind another Aga Khan horse Vardif and Godolphin horse Time To Turn. After the final turn, he made a move to the middle between Vardif and Imperial Me Cen and started his stride. He however can't catch the leader Puerto Rico and second place Nighttime, finishing in third by 3+1⁄4 lengths behind winner.
2026 : three-year-old season
Rayif start his classic season entered the French 2000 Guineas Poule d'Essai des Poulains on 10 May, with Puerto Rico and Nighttime entered the race too. After starting from the inside gate, he was positioned third behind leader Hankelow. After the final turn, he got an opening on the inside rail and started striding. He then started fighting the leader Hankelow at the 250m mark, passing Hankelow at 200m. He held his lead until the end and finished the race 1 length in front Komorebi.
Racing statistics
The following racing form is based on information available on sportinglife.com, racingpost.com., France Galop. and British Horseracing Authority.
| Date | Distance (Condition) | Race | Class | Course | Field | Finish | Time | Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Winner (2nd place) |
Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 – two-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| 5 Jul | Turf 1200 m (Good to Soft) | De Tancarville Stakes | Deauville | 8 | 1st | 1:10.25 | neck | Mickael Barzalona | (No Remorse) | |||
| 17 Aug | Turf 1400 m (Good to Soft) | Prix Francois Boutin | GIII | Deauville | 7 | 1st | 1:21.59 | 2+1⁄2 length | Mickael Barzalona | (Andab) | ||
| 5 Oct | Turf 1400 m (Very Soft) | Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | GI | Longchamp | 9 | 3rd | 1:22.12 | (3+1⁄4 lengths) | Mickael Barzalona | Puerto Rico | ||
| 2026 – three-year-old season | ||||||||||||
| 10 May | Turf 1600 m (Soft) | Poule d'Essai des Poulains | GI | Longchamp | 13 | 1st | 1:38.63 | 1 lengths | Mickael Barzalona | (Komorebi) | ||
| 12 Jul | Turf 1400 m (Good) | Prix Jean Prat | GI | Deauville | 8 | 5th | 1:22.52 | (2+1⁄4 lengths) | Mickael Barzalona | Thesecretadversary | ||
| 16 Aug | Turf 1600 m (Good) | Prix Jacques Le Marois | GI | Deauville | 10 | 1st | 1:35.50 | neck | Mickael Barzalona | (Zeus Olympios) | ||
| 17 Oct | Turf 1 mile (Good) | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | GI | Ascot | 11 | 3rd | 1:40.09 | (1+1⁄2 lengths) | Christophe Soumillon | Talk Of New York | ||
Notes:
- ↑ Official time of winning horse. The time written in grey doesn't belong to Rayif.
Pedigree
| Sire Sea The Moon (GER) 2011 |
Sea the Stars (IRE) 2006 |
Cape Cross (IRE) | Green Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Appeal | |||
| Urban Sea (USA) | Miswaki | ||
| Allegretta | |||
| Sanwa (GER) 2004 |
Monsun (GER) | Königsstuhl | |
| Mosella | |||
| Sacarina (GB) | Old Vic | ||
| Brave Lass | |||
| Dam Rayisa (IRE) 2013 |
Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) 2004 |
Danehill (USA) | Danzig |
| Razyana | |||
| L'On Vite (USA) | Secretariat | ||
| Fanfreluche | |||
| Rayka (IRE) 2007 |
Selkirk (USA) | Sharpen Up | |
| Annie Edge | |||
| Rayyana (IRE) | Rainbow Quest | ||
| Rayseka |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rayif Profile". racingpost.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sea The Moon Overwhelming in German Derby". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sea The Stars Adds Arc de Triomphe to Galaxy". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Holy Roman Emperor profile". racingpost.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "About us". www.agakhanstuds.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "About Rayif". www.agakhanstuds.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Rayevka's Half-Brother Rayif Debuts at Deauville". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Rayif debut Result". www.sportinglife.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "The Aga Khan Studs Prix Francois Boutin (Group 3) Entry list". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sea The Moon's Rayif Electric In The Francois Boutin". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1) Entries". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Puerto Rico far too hot for lagardere rivals". racingtv.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Tracking report | Qatar Prix Jean Luc-Lagardere" (PDF). France Galop. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- ↑ "Aga Khan Studs to hold strong hand in both French Guineas on Sunday as crucial draw details are revealed". racingpost.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS - French-trained Rayif wins the "Poule" like a Champion, after more than 200 days off!". www.france-galop.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Rayif stats". sportinglife.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "racingpost profile". racingpost.com. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Rayif (IRE)". francegalopext.ciamlogin.com. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "Rayif (IRE) Horse Profile". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "Rayif Debut Result". Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "The Aga Khan Studs Prix Francois Boutin (Group 3) Result". Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1) Result". Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Group 1) Result". Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Prix Jean Prat (Group 1) (No Geldings) (Turf) Full Result". www.racingpost.com. 12 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ "Tracking Report | Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Prix Jean Prat (Group 1)" (pdf). France Galop (in French). 12 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Gr1 Prix Jacques Le Marois result". racingpost.com. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qatar Racing) (Group 1) Full Result". racingpost.com. 17 October 2026. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Result". British Horseracing Authority. 17 October 2026. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "Rayif Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.