Zarkava
Encyclopedia
Zarkava is an undefeated French
Thoroughbred
racehorse
whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
.
Bred and raced by HH Aga Khan IV
, she was sired by Group II winner Zamindar who also sired the multiple Group One
winner, Darjina. Out of the mare, Zarkasha, her damsire is Kahyasi
, winner of the 1988 Epsom
and Irish Derbys.
for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre
. She won both the 2007 Prix de la Cascade for maiden fillies, and the Group One
(G1) Prix Marcel Boussac
. As a three-year-old, she made her 2008 debut in April at Longchamp with a win in the G3 Prix de la Grotte
followed by the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
in which she set a new race record time. She then won the Classic
G1 Prix de Diane
at Chantilly Racecourse
in June and back at Longchamp, September's 2,400 metres (1½ mile) Prix Vermeille
. After stumbling out of the starting gate and losing at least a dozen lengths to the leaders, she came back from last to equal the race record time in winning the Prix Vermeille by two lengths.
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon
in all her starts to date, Zarkava was the betting
favorite leading up to the October 5th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. In what was her first race against colt
s, Zarkava won the 2008 Arc
with a powerful stretch drive to become the first filly in fifteen years to win the race. Zarkava was retired on October 13, 2008, with an undefeated record.
Many began to question her ability to win the Arc after her tardy start in the Prix Vermeille. However, on November 17, 2008, when she was named Cartier Horse of the Year for Europe, His Highness the Aga Khan, her owner and breeder, noted in a video interview posted on the website of the UK's Daily Telegraph that they had been working to get this quirky filly to leave from a state of relaxation in the gate and run in a more relaxed mode at the start of her races instead of getting "all tied up". He also said Zarkava had matured at three and did not get into her pace as quickly as she did at two. The Aga Khan went on to say she was an exceptional racehorse in a year of exceptional horses; and that her quality was identified very early, resulting in being placed in Group 1 races after her maiden win. The interview also stated that his daughter, Princess Zahra, was deeply involved in the breeding of Zarkava, as well as the Aga Khan's other horses. His Highness has been quoted in story after story as saying Zarkava represents "the apogee" of his family's 90+ years of breeding winning Thoroughbred racehorses.
Timeform
announced that they rated Zarkava at 133 after the Arc, making her the joint-best filly or mare in the last 20 years and joint-seventh in the last 40 years. This was significantly higher than the official rating, but Phil Smith, the senior British Horseracing Authority Handicapper, explained that it was like comparing apples and oranges.
"We look at the facts and make our assessment in an historical context," he said. "We're not trying to speculate. We think Zarkava is exceptionally good, and we think our figure reflects that. We're also constantly updating our list of the 50 top horses, and she is joint-second (with Duke Of Marmalade) on 127, only 3lb behind the top-rated, Curlin. Many forget she was receiving a 3lb sex allowance, which if applied to our list, would bring her out as the same horse as Curlin [as the #1 rated horse in the world].
Zarkava won the horseraceinsider.com award Most Under-Appreciated Significant Victory of 2008 Insider Award: To three-year-old filly Zarkava for her defeat of older males in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
On 11 February 2011 she produced a bay colt by 2009 Epsom Derby
, 2000 Guineas and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
winner and European champion 3-year-old Sea the Stars
at the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval stud in Normandy, France. The colt was described as "a strong colt who looks like his sire and is very correct."
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
.
Bred and raced by HH Aga Khan IV
Aga Khan IV
Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, NPk, NI, KBE, CC, GCC, GCIH, GCM is the 49th and current Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. He has held this position under the title of Aga Khan since July 11, 1957, when, at the age of 20, he succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan...
, she was sired by Group II winner Zamindar who also sired the multiple Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
winner, Darjina. Out of the mare, Zarkasha, her damsire is Kahyasi
Kahyasi
Kahyasi was an Irish-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1988.Kahyasi was trained by Luca Cumani during his racing career and was ridden by Ray Cochrane to a length-and-a-half victory over Glacial Storm in the Epsom Classic.He went on the win the Irish...
, winner of the 1988 Epsom
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and Irish Derbys.
Racing record
Zarkava made two starts at age two at Longchamp Racecourse, her home base in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre
Alain de Royer-Dupré
Alain de Royer-Dupré is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in Normandy of which his father was Assistant Director and later Director, responsible for government-owned stallions based at farms in the local...
. She won both the 2007 Prix de la Cascade for maiden fillies, and the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
(G1) Prix Marcel Boussac
Prix Marcel Boussac
The Prix Marcel Boussac is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
. As a three-year-old, she made her 2008 debut in April at Longchamp with a win in the G3 Prix de la Grotte
Prix de la Grotte
The Prix de la Grotte is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.-History:...
followed by the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
in which she set a new race record time. She then won the Classic
French Classic Races
In France, the Classics of horse racing are a series of Group One Thoroughbred horse races run annually on the flat. The four races are organized by France Galop.The Prix de Diane is restricted to filles....
G1 Prix de Diane
Prix de Diane
The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
at Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
in June and back at Longchamp, September's 2,400 metres (1½ mile) Prix Vermeille
Prix Vermeille
The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1897, and it...
. After stumbling out of the starting gate and losing at least a dozen lengths to the leaders, she came back from last to equal the race record time in winning the Prix Vermeille by two lengths.
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon
Christophe Soumillon
Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in...
in all her starts to date, Zarkava was the betting
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
favorite leading up to the October 5th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
. In what was her first race against colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
s, Zarkava won the 2008 Arc
2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was a horse race which took place at Longchamp on Sunday October 5, 2008. It was the 87th running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and it was won by Zarkava...
with a powerful stretch drive to become the first filly in fifteen years to win the race. Zarkava was retired on October 13, 2008, with an undefeated record.
Many began to question her ability to win the Arc after her tardy start in the Prix Vermeille. However, on November 17, 2008, when she was named Cartier Horse of the Year for Europe, His Highness the Aga Khan, her owner and breeder, noted in a video interview posted on the website of the UK's Daily Telegraph that they had been working to get this quirky filly to leave from a state of relaxation in the gate and run in a more relaxed mode at the start of her races instead of getting "all tied up". He also said Zarkava had matured at three and did not get into her pace as quickly as she did at two. The Aga Khan went on to say she was an exceptional racehorse in a year of exceptional horses; and that her quality was identified very early, resulting in being placed in Group 1 races after her maiden win. The interview also stated that his daughter, Princess Zahra, was deeply involved in the breeding of Zarkava, as well as the Aga Khan's other horses. His Highness has been quoted in story after story as saying Zarkava represents "the apogee" of his family's 90+ years of breeding winning Thoroughbred racehorses.
Honours
As of November 2008, Zarkava was the world's #2 ranked horse by the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (www.IFHAonline.org) and #1 in the world by RaceHorseOwner.com The UK's Daily Mail reported that in addition to being the first filly to win the Arc in 15 years, she was the first three-year-old filly to win since 1982 and the first of either sex to win the great race from her post position since 1964.Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
announced that they rated Zarkava at 133 after the Arc, making her the joint-best filly or mare in the last 20 years and joint-seventh in the last 40 years. This was significantly higher than the official rating, but Phil Smith, the senior British Horseracing Authority Handicapper, explained that it was like comparing apples and oranges.
"We look at the facts and make our assessment in an historical context," he said. "We're not trying to speculate. We think Zarkava is exceptionally good, and we think our figure reflects that. We're also constantly updating our list of the 50 top horses, and she is joint-second (with Duke Of Marmalade) on 127, only 3lb behind the top-rated, Curlin. Many forget she was receiving a 3lb sex allowance, which if applied to our list, would bring her out as the same horse as Curlin [as the #1 rated horse in the world].
Zarkava won the horseraceinsider.com award Most Under-Appreciated Significant Victory of 2008 Insider Award: To three-year-old filly Zarkava for her defeat of older males in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Stud record
The first foal for Zarkava was a filly by Dalakhani foaled on 6 February 2010 at Gilltown Stud in Kilcullen, County Kildare, Ireland.On 11 February 2011 she produced a bay colt by 2009 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, 2000 Guineas and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
winner and European champion 3-year-old Sea the Stars
Sea the Stars
Sea The Stars is a champion Irish Thoroughbred colt racehorse. Regarded by many as one of the greatest racehorses of all time, he is best known for winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, - the first colt to accomplish this treble since 1989 champion Nashwan - the...
at the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval stud in Normandy, France. The colt was described as "a strong colt who looks like his sire and is very correct."