By Tom Frary
One of the outsiders for Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp, Odette Fau's Haya Zark (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) proved toughest where it mattered to up his level a notch and register a career-best at 19-1.
Last seen recording back-to-back wins in Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Exbury in March, the homebred who had also garnered this track's 12-furlong G3 Prix d'Hedouville last May was kept close to the early pace by Alexis Pouchin before being launched passing two out. Game and genuine to the line, the Adrien Fouassier-trained 5-year-old got there a head in front of The Aga Khan's Zarir (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), with a neck back to last year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
“To win a group 1 race is just wonderful–unbelievable for a small trainer from the provinces like me,” Fouasssier said. “When he won the Exbury, I decided I didn't want to run him in the Harcourt three weeks later as it was too soon and the horse needs to be fresh. As we were nearing this race and the ground was drying, I was worried as he so ground-dependant but it poured down last night and came just in time for us. We have no plan–the horse and the weather will tell us when to run.”
Francis-Henri Graffard said of the runner-up, “It was a very good run first time in a group race, so it is really encouraging for the future. He would probably have liked faster ground, but even if it is somewhat frustrating to lose by so little, we can't complain.” Feed The Flame's trainer Pascal Bary added, “It was a good performance–he has run his race this time and is going in the right direction. He will improve further and will be at his best when he runs back over a mile and a half.”
Haya Zark takes the Prix Ganay (G1)!
— IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) April 28, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Haya Zark is the second of three foals out of Haya City (Fr) (Elusive City), a half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly-placed Haya Landa (Fr) (Lando {Ger}) who was fourth in the 2012 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at 150-1. On that theme, the fourth dam Terre De Feu (Fr) (Busted {GB}) produced the 1991 Arc hero Subotica (Fr) (Pampabird {Ire}) who also captured this contest in 1992.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX GANAY-G1, €300,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-28, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT, 2:13.16, vs.
1–HAYA ZARK (FR), 128, h, 5, by Zarak (Fr)
1st Dam: Haya City (Fr), by Elusive City
2nd Dam: Haya Samma (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Singing Lark (Fr), by Pampabird (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Mme Odette Fau (FR); T-Adrien Fouassier; J-Alexis Pouchin. €171,420. Lifetime Record: 18-6-3-2, €389,350. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zarir (Ire), 128, g, 4, Frankel (GB)–Zarshana (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-H H Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €68,580.
3–Feed The Flame (GB), 128, c, 4, Kingman (GB)–Knyazhna (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). TDN Rising Star. (€270,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard; B-Monceaux/Lordship Stud/Clear Light SAS (GB); T-Pascal Bary. €34,290.
Margins: HD, NK, HD. Odds: 19.00, 7.60, 10.00.
Also Ran: Al Riffa (Fr), Horizon Dore (Fr), Birr Castle (Fr), Crypto Force (GB), Zarakem (Fr), Fantastic Moon (Ger). Video, sponsored by TVG.
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