There are few nine-year-old winners of claiming races who make the headlines but in the case of Zarica (Fr) it is fully justified. The daughter of Rio De La Plata entered the French racing history books on Friday when equalling the record number of wins in a season, striking at Compiegne for the 11th time in 2023.
In her 15 starts this year stretching back to January, Zarica has never finished out of the first four and has appeared at tracks all over France, from Le Touquet down to Marseille Borely. Trained by Julien Phelippon, Zarica was bred by Julian Ince of Haras du Logis, where her sire stood until his death last year. Having won for the first time at four, she has now accrued 20 victories from her 77 starts.
“She took her time,” said Ince of Zarica, who has really hit her stride at the age of nine, equalling the record held since 1997 of Alips (Fr), who was bred by Ince's friends and former Logis clients, the late Georges and Jacqueline Sandor.
He added, “But it's another great thing to say about the French premiums, that they keep horses in training. She has equalled the record now but I'm sure Julien will try to beat it. He has October, November and December left, and if you look at her record she has an entry every two to three weeks.”
Ince's breeding programme was also seen to good effect at Cholet on Saturday when he was responsible for the first winner of Le Brivido (Fr), the Classic-placed son of Siyouni (Fr) who started his stud career at Overbury Stud in England but is now resident at France's Haras de la Haie Neuve. His daughter Etel (Fr), bred by Ince from the Seeking The Gold mare Angel's Tears, triumphed on her third start for Anne-Sophie Crombez.
Through his Haras du Logis draft, Ince is selling two yearlings by Le Brivido at the Arqana October Sale next week, including a brother to Brio (Fr), who was a close second on debut for Gavin Hernon at Saint-Cloud last week.
“Brio looks to be a very good horse and his full-brother is going through the ring in October,” Ince said.
“It's been a really fun weekend. It was huge fun watching Zarica equal the record. It was like winning the Gold Cup. We were shouting her across the line.”
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