Zarak (Fr)

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Zarak's Laurelin during the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Big Apple Flavour For Laurelin Newstead Stables' Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) won her career debut for trainer Graham Motion during the Belmont at the Big A meeting last week (video). Bred by M. H. Dixon and Mount Coote Estates, the chestnut filly cost Form Bloodstock €160,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling. The daughter...

His Highness The Aga Khan's undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and Group 1 producer Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) will not be bred next year and has been pensioned, The Aga Khan Studs announced on Wednesday. The 19-year-old mare's final foal is a filly by Siyouni (Fr) born on February 2, 2024. Foaled on the final day of March in 2005, the daughter of Zarkasha (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) won her seven starts for Alain de Royer-Dupre by a combined 16 lengths, all in group company, bar her Longchamp maiden. After winning...

A total of 775 lots have been catalogued for the Arqana October Yearling Sale, including a Romanised (Ire) half-brother to this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who was bought by Alessandro Marconi for €78,000 at this very sale in 2022. The five-day fixture takes place from Tuesday, October 22 to Saturday, October 26. The Romanised colt (lot 23) will be one of the early lots to go under the hammer during Part 1 of the October Yearling Sale, with lots 1 to 208 set...

A share in Group 1 winner and sire Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) brought €710,000 from American chef and owner/breeder Bobby Flay during Arqana Online's Pop-Up Sale on Friday. A resident of The Aga Khan Studs' Haras de Bonneval, Zarak (lot 1) has produced a trio of top-flight winners led by G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan (Fr), G1 Prix Ganay victor Haya Zark (Fr), and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden scorer Zagrey (Fr). His worldwide stakes winners stand at 20. His 2024 fee was €60,000. Also selling on Friday...

A share in the Haras d'Etreham stallion Hello Youmzain (Fr) has been added to the Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale scheduled for Friday, July 12. The share gives the right to two coverings a year, an identical offering to the one that fetched €180,000 from Laurent Benoit, acting on behalf of Haras des Sablonnets, on the Arqana Online platform last month. Hello Youmzain was a high-class sprinter for the Kevin Ryan yard, notably winning the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes. He stood his first season at Haras...

Another share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) will be offered by Arqana Online during a pop-up sale to be held on Friday, July 12. The share gives the right to one covering per year, plus an additional covering every odd-numbered year, meaning two coverings in 2025 followed by one covering in 2026, and so on. Last month an identical offering on the Arqana Online platform sold to Laurent Benoit, acting on behalf of Haras Voltaire, for €740,000. Bidding will take place between 5-6pm local time, with registration...

A share in G1SW Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}-Zarkava {Ire}, by Zamindar) realised €740,000 from Laurent Benoit, acting on behalf of Haras Voltaire, during Wednesday's Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale. Additionally, a share in Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}-Spasha {GB}), by Shamardal) was also knocked down to Benoit, this time bidding for Haras des Sablonnets, for €180,000. The leading sire in France by black-type winners, the Aga Khan Studs stallion has produced this year's Classic-winning Metropolitan (Fr), who took the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, as well as Haya Zark (Fr) and...

A share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) will be offered by Arqana Online during a pop-up sale to be held on Wednesday, June 26. Bidding will take place between 5-6pm local time, with registration for bidding already open on www.arqanaonline.com. A four-time winner when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, notably landing the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Zarak boasts an exceptional pedigree as a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the unbeaten G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). He stood his first season at...

The unbeaten Hot Darling (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will be offered in a pop-up sale via Tattersalls Online on Wednesday, June 12, the auction house announced on Monday. A Listed winner after claiming the Prix des Reves d'Or at Vichy over heavy ground in her second start May 15, she entered that stakes off a determined unveiling Apr. 26 at Chantilly. Consigned by Amy Murphy Racing, she is being offered with an entry in the G3 Prix du Bois on June 16 but could also be aimed at the...

Scheduled 40 minutes after the fillies' Classic, Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains offered a dramatic contrast with a heavy downpour greatly affecting the aesthetics at ParisLongchamp and to an extent the ground also. In the event, the race was off 40 minutes de retard due to the thunderstorm before Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}--Alianza {GB}, by Halling) provided another surprise result on the afternoon by overcoming higher-profile peers at 24-1. Unbeaten in two juvenile starts before finishing fifth in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau last month, the Mario...

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...

Preceded by a trio of sophomore Listed contests on the card, Saturday's G3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud went the way of last year's three-length winner Haya Zark (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}--Haya City {Fr}, by Elusive City), who handled bottomless conditions at the Paris track and cruised to an easy 1 1/2-length victory from 50-1 Polish raider Gryphon (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}). The 53-10 chance also bagged 2023's G3 Prix d'Hedouville and was dropped down to this 10-furlong trip for the first time since last term's heroics at this venue coming back off...