With TDN Rising Star Erdenali (Caravaggio) having done the business in the G1 Qatar Prix du Moulin earlier on Sunday's star-studded card, the Aga Khan Studs operation was in full swing at ParisLongchamp when Varandir (Zarak) dented some lofty reputations and mustered a career high in Sunday's G2 Qatar Prix Niel.The 11-2 chance employed patient tactics from the outset and settled off the pace, set by clear leader Montreal (Sea The Stars), in fifth until well beyond halfway in this 12-furlong contest.Making continued headway under pressure in the straight, he went second approaching the final furlong and ran on strongly once collaring Montreal with 100 metres remaining to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths and a length from G1 Grand Prix de Paris third Alam (Zelzal) and G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Pearled Majesty (Persian King).Ballydoyle's G1 Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) was unable to land a telling blow and finished in fifth, one spot behind G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Chiefland (Study Of Man). Back to winning ways! Varandir storms to success in the Qatar Prix Niel! @AgaKhanStuds | @GraffardRacing pic.twitter.com/5yFDE81SYa— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 6, 2026 Pedigree NotesVarandir, one of his sire's 26 Group winners, is the first of two foals produced by Listed Prix de la Cochere victrix Varkesha (Pivotal), herself the leading performer out of Listed Prix de Bagatelle third Varana (Sea The Stars).His dual stakes-placed third dam Valasyra (Sinndar), herself a daughter of the Listed Prix Imprudence victrix Valima (Linamix), is kin to three pattern-race winners headed by G1 Prix de Diane heroine Valyra (Azamour) and G2 Prix Chaudenay victor Valirann (Nayef).The winner, who is from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning sire Val Royal (Royal Academy) and dual Group 1 scorer Valixir (Trempolino), is a half-brother to the once-raced two-year-old filly Vardaniya (Mehmas). Sunday, ParisLongchamp, FranceQATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €119,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-6, 3yo, 12fT, 2:25.70, g/s.1–VARANDIR (FR), 128, c, 3, by Zarak (Fr) 1st Dam: Varkesha (Fr) (SW-Fr), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Varana (Fr), by Sea The Stars (Ire) 3rd Dam: Valasyra (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire)O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €67,830. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, €161,090. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Alam (Fr), 128, c, 3, Zelzal (Fr)–Katara (Fr), by Deep Impact (Jpn). O/B-Al Shaqab Racing; T-Mikel Delzangles. €26,180.3–Pearled Majesty (GB), 128, c, 3, Persian King (Ire)–Perle D'Auge (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). O-Mme Christiane Head & Mauricio Delcher Sanchez; B-Newsells Park Stud & Fittocks Stud Ltd; T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €12,495.Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 2. Odds: 5.50, 12.10, 13.80.Also Ran: Chiefland (Ire), Benvenuto Cellini (Ire), Montreal (Ire), Zaraki (Ire).The post More Longchamp Success For Aga Khan Studs Operation As Varandir Registers Prix Niel Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.