Leading sire Zarak injured in stable accident, misses 2026 covering season

The Aga Khan Studs announced on 17 February 2026 that leading sire Zarak has been injured in a stable accident and “will unfortunately miss the start of the 2026 covering season.” The stud added that Zarak “will require several weeks to recuperate, and his condition will be reassessed in two months’ time,” language reproduced in Racing Post, Thoroughbred Daily News and BloodHorse.

The statement described the incident only as “an accident in his stable.” No source provided the precise date or time of the accident, the nature of Zarak’s injuries, whether staff were involved, or whether veterinary surgery was required. Publications reporting the announcement on 17 February 2026 include Racing Post with bloodstock coverage, TDN (updated 08:38) and Spotlight Sports Group (updated 13:27).

Zarak is the regally bred son of Dubawi and the Aga Khan’s unbeaten champion Zarkava, and was the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) winner in 2017 for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupré. He retired to Haras de Bonneval in 2018 and was due to stand his second successive covering season at a fee of €80,000 in 2026, figures reported by Racing Post, TDN and BloodHorse.

His stud résumé is prominent but counts vary by outlet. Racing Post reports Zarak “has gone from strength to strength since retiring to Haras de Bonneval in 2018,” listing 22 individual Group or Graded winners and operating at a 10.7 per cent strike-rate of stakes winners to runners and 72 per cent winners to runners. BloodHorse states he “is responsible for 22 individual group or graded winners from 34 stakes scorers.” TDN gives a different tally, calling him the sire of 34 individual black-type winners. The discrepancies appear linked to differing definitions of black-type, stakes and group status across databases.

Zarak’s top-level progeny underline his commercial and sporting impact. Metropolitan, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero, and Zagrey, winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden, and Haya Zark, winner of the Prix Ganay, are listed across sources as his Group 1 winners. TDN notes Metropolitan begins his second season at Haras d'Etreham in 2026 while Zagrey is starting his second season at Haras de Grandcamp. TDN also records Zarakem, runner-up in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, joining Haras de la Tuilerie for 2026. BloodHorse highlights Laurelin, a daughter who has won four black-type stakes including the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) and placed second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) for Newstead Stables and trainer Graham Motion.

The commercial thread is sharp: BloodHorse reports a 2% share in Zarak sold for €740,000 to an anonymous Britain-based buyer at the Arqana Online December Sale on Dec. 16, and a Zarak yearling — an Ecurie des Monceaux filly out of Prudente — fetched up to €1.1 million when sold to One Agency at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. BloodHorse also notes that Metropolitan, Zagrey and Haya Zark were conceived at fees of €12,000, underscoring the upward trajectory to the current €80,000 fee.

Operationally and commercially, the timing is sensitive. Zarak’s absence at the start of the 2026 covering season removes a high-fee option from early booking lists, with potential implications for mare owners, rebooking choices and stud revenue; none of these details — which mares were scheduled, whether owners have been contacted, and insurance arrangements — have been disclosed. The Aga Khan Studs’ planned reassessment in two months’ time places a key update around mid-April 2026; until then, exact recovery outcomes and any business fallout remain unresolved.

This injury will be watched closely by breeders and bloodstock markets: a stallion who stood at €80,000 in 2026, sired multiple Group 1 winners and whose stock sold for up to €1.1 million represents both sporting prestige and tangible commercial value. The Aga Khan Studs’ statement on 17 February 2026 sets a clear timetable for reassessment, but the unanswered medical, operational and financial questions will determine the ripple effects through European and international bloodstock this spring.