Zarkava

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Zarkava
Racing silks of Aga Khan
Sire	Zamindar (USA)
Grandsire	Gone West
Dam	Zarkasha
Damsire	Kahyasi
Sex	Mare
Foaled	2005
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	HH Aga Khan IV
Owner	HH Aga Khan IV
Trainer	Alain de Royer-Dupre
Record	7: 7-0-0
Earnings	€3.364.620
Major wins
Prix Marcel Boussac (2007) Prix de la Grotte (2008) Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (2008) Prix de Diane (2008) Prix Vermeille (2008) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2008)
Awards
European Horse of the Year (2008) European Champion 3-Y-O Filly (2008)
Last updated on 18 November 2008

Zarkava (foaled 31 March 2005 in Ireland) is an undefeated French Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Background

Bred and raced by HH Aga Khan IV, Zarkava 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.^[1]

Racing record

Zarkava made two starts at age two at Longchamp Racecourse, her home base in Paris for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. She won both the 2007 Prix de la Cascade for maiden fillies, and the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac. As a three-year-old, she made her 2008 debut in April at Longchamp with a win in the Group Three Prix de la Grotte followed by the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in which she set a new race record time. She then won the 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 colts, 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 13 October 2008, with an undefeated record.^[2]

Many began to question her ability to win the Arc after her tardy start in the Prix Vermeille. However, on 17 November 2008, when she was named Cartier Horse of the Year, the Aga Khan noted in a video interview posted on the website of the 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 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 prize, Most Under-Appreciated Significant Victory of 2008 Insider Award, for her defeat of older males in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.^[3]

Stud record

The first foal for Zarkava was a filly by Dalakhani foaled on 6 February 2010 at Gilltown Stud in Kilcullen, Ireland.^[4]

On 11 February 2011 she produced a bay colt by 2009 Epsom Derby, 2000 Guineas and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, European Champion 3-year-old and No.1 World Ranked Racehorse 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."^[5]

Tabulated pedigree

Pedigree of Zarkava, bay mare, 2005
Sire Zamindar (USA)	Gone West	Mr. Prospector	Raise a Native
		Mr. Prospector	Gold Digger
		Secretame	Secretariat
		Secretame	Tamerett
	Zaizafon	The Minstrel	Northern Dancer
		The Minstrel	Fleur
		Mofida	Right Tack
		Mofida	Wold Lass
Dam Zarkasha	Kahyasi	Ile de Bourbon	Nijinsky II
		Ile de Bourbon	Roseliere
		Kadissya	Blushing Groom
		Kadissya	Kalkeen
	Zarkana	Doyoun	Mill Reef
		Doyoun	Dumka
		Zarna	Shernazar
		Zarna	Zahra

References

External links

v t e Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners

1920 Comrade 1921 Ksar 1922 Ksar 1923 Parth 1924 Massine 1925 Priori 1926 Biribi 1927 Mon Talisman 1928 Kantar 1929 Ortello 1930 Motrico 1931 Pearl Cap ♥ 1932 Motrico 1933 Crapom 1934 Brantome 1935 Samos ♥ 1936 Corrida ♥ 1937 Corrida ♥ 1938 Eclair au Chocolat 1941 Le Pacha 1942 Djebel 1943 Verso 1944 Ardan 1945 Nikellora 1946 Caracalla 1947 Le Paillon 1948 Migoli 1949 Coronation ♥ 1950 Tantieme 1951 Tantieme 1952 Nuccio 1953 La Sorellina ♥ 1954 Sica Boy 1955 Ribot 1956 Ribot 1957 Oroso 1958 Ballymoss 1959 Saint Crespin 1960 Puissant Chef 1961 Molvedo 1962 Soltikoff 1963 Exbury 1964 Prince Royal 1965 Sea Bird 1966 Bon Mot 1967 Topyo 1968 Vaguely Noble 1969 Levmoss 1970 Sassafras 1971 Mill Reef 1972 San San ♥ 1973 Rheingold 1974 Allez France ♥ 1975 Star Appeal 1976 Ivanjica 1977 Alleged 1978 Alleged 1979 Three Troikas ♥ 1980 Detroit ♥ 1981 Gold River ♥ 1982 Akiyda ♥ 1983 All Along ♥ 1984 Sagace 1985 Rainbow Quest 1986 Dancing Brave 1987 Trempolino 1988 Tony Bin 1989 Carroll House 1990 Saumarez 1991 Suave Dancer 1992 Subotica 1993 Urban Sea ♥ 1994 Carnegie 1995 Lammtarra 1996 Helissio 1997 Peintre Celebre 1998 Sagamix 1999 Montjeu 2000 Sinndar 2001 Sakhee 2002 Marienbard 2003 Dalakhani 2004 Bago 2005 Hurricane Run 2006 Rail Link 2007 Dylan Thomas 2008 Zarkava ♥ 2009 Sea the Stars 2010 Workforce 2011 Danedream ♥ 2012 Solemia ♥ 2013 Treve ♥

Legend - ♥ = Filly

v t e Cartier Horse of the Year

1991 Arazi 1992 User Friendly 1993 Lochsong 1994 Barathea 1995 Ridgewood Pearl 1996 Helissio 1997 Peintre Celebre 1998 Dream Well 1999 Daylami 2000 Giant's Causeway 2001 Fantastic Light 2002 Rock of Gibraltar 2003 Dalakhani 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Hurricane Run 2006 Ouija Board 2007 Dylan Thomas 2008 Zarkava 2009 Sea the Stars 2010 Goldikova 2011 Frankel 2012 Frankel

v t e Cartier Champion Three-year-old Filly

1991 Kooyonga 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity (horse) 1994 Balanchine 1995 Ridgewood Pearl 1996 Bosra Sham 1997 Ryafan 1998 Cape Verdi 1999 Ramruma 2000 Petrushka 2001 Banks Hill 2002 Kazzia 2003 Russian Rhythm 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Divine Proportions 2006 Mandesha 2007 Peeping Fawn 2008 Zarkava 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Danedream 2012 The Fugue

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