ZARKAVA JUST PERFECT
Article taken from the EBN
The Aga Khan’s homebred Zarkava fully lived up to her lofty reputation with a superb victory in the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the world’s richest race on turf. Despite the disappointment of rain at Longchamp, and a few doubts about the filly being drawn on the inside and having her first run against colts in such an important event, she powered to victory from Youmzain (Sinndar), who filled the runnerup spot for the second consecutive year.
Although Zarkava broke smartly, she immediately ducked towards the tapes on the side of the track and found herself in last place after a few strides. Jockey Christophe Soumillion again rode her patiently, though she only had a few behind her as she turned into the final straight. The Longchamp crowd have been used to seeing her flying late run on the outside of the field, but this time she was ridden through her rivals to strike the front at the furlong marker, and she passed the post two lengths clear of Youmzain, with Soldier of Fortune (Galileo) and German outsider It’s Gino (Perugino) dead-heating for third. No decision has been made whether she will stay in training.
Zarkava was completing an excellent day for Banstead Manor Stud stallions: her sire ZAMINDAR stands alongside Beat Hollow and Oasis Dream, who also sired Gr.1 winners at Longchamp yesterday.
EBN Race report
Hail a superstar! The breathtaking winner of the Gr.1 Prix de Diane, Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Gr.1 Prix Vermeille and Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac, Zarkava retained her unbeaten record, quickening impressively when daylight appeared 300 metres out to head It’s Gino approaching the final 100 metres and drawing away with jockey Soumillon pressing his hand to his heart. The bay is by Banstead Manor Stud’s leading juvenile ZAMINDAR, whose 317 foals aged three and over number seven Group winners including the other Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches heroines Darjina and Zenda and the Gr.1 Prix Saint-Alary ace Coquerelle. ZAMIDNAR has a colt out of a full-sister to the classy miler Right Wing catalogued as Lot 8 in Tattersalls’ October Yearling Sale.
Featuring a 3x4 coupling of the brilliant three partsbrothers The Minstrel and Nijinsky, Zarkava is the second foal of Zarkasha, who has a yearling colt by Azamour. By Kahyasi, Zarkasha is a three parts-sister to the Gr.1 Prix de Diane and Gr.1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Zainta. Zarkasha’s dam Zarkana has also produced the Gr.3 Prix de Sandringham victrix Zarkiya (Catrail) and the Stakes-placed Zariyan (Anabaa) and is a three partssister to Darshaan’s Gr.2 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes scorer Zerpour, Gr.3 Greenham Stakes scorer Zayyani and Gr.1 Irish St Leger third Zafadola. Delving a little deeper, Zarkava’s fifth dam is Britain’s Horse Of The Year of 1959, Petite Etoile (Petition).
Date: 06 October 2008