Dawalan Named Champion Steeplechase Horse

While Dawalan may be the black sheep of his European family, the 5-year-old gray son of Azamour took the steeplechase courses of the United States in stride and earned a 2015 Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser. While Dawalan is the third champion in his immediate family, he is the first over jumps.



Bred in France by the Aga Khan, Dawalan is the final foal of the blue hen Daltawa. For the Aga Khan she produced grade/group I winners Daylami (by Doyoun) whose victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Gulstream Park earned him an Eclipse as champion turf male in 1999, the same year he was Europe's Horse of the Year; French classic winner Dalakhani (by Darshaan), who also won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-I) and was named Europe's Horse of the Year in 2003. Irv Naylor purchased Dawalan in Europe and brought him to the U.S. and turned him over to trainer Cyril Murphy. In his first stateside start Dawalan finished third in Belmont's Lonesome Glory Hurdle Handicap (NSA-I), his first start since the Aintree meet in England in early April, behind fellow Eclipse nominee Bob Le Beau.



The Americanization of Dawalan took full effect in the rich Grand National Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills. Ridden by Ross Geraghty, Dawalan won the richest race ever run at a National Steeplechase Association meet by a length. A month later he stood in the winner's circle at Camden after demolishing 10 rivals in the Colonial Cup, the final grade I of the season.



Dawalan finished the U.S. portion of his 2015 season with two grade I wins in three grade I starts and earned $255,000.

Voting totals in steeplechase division: Dawalan 165; Bob Le Beau 47; African Oil, 2; Demonstrative, 2; Grinding Speed, 1; voter abstentions, 44.