TDN RISING STARS

April 19, 2018 - LONGCHAMP, Race 4, Mdn, EUR €25,000, 8f, .0000

Zarkamiya (Fr), f, 3, 2015 by Frankel (GB)

1st Dam: Zarkava (Ire) (HotY-Euro & MG1SW-Fr, $4,793,989), by Zamindar
2nd Dam: Zarkasha (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Zarkana (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire)

Owner: H H The Aga Khan
Breeder: H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (Fr)
Trainer: Alain de Royer-Dupre

Zarkamiya enjoyed odds-on favouritism in this distaffers’ test and did not disappoint her supporters with a decisive success in this unveiling. She was steadied off the pace in a midfield sixth after breaking on terms with the front rank. Nudged along off the home turn, the 9-10 pick quickened in impressive fashion to challenge entering the final eighth and ran on strongly under mild urging in the closing stages to comfortably best long-time leader Xagere (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) by a length. “She’s a lovely looking filly, but doesn’t show much in her paces at home,� explained trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. “She’s not very demonstrative, but has a lot of energy and gives a lot. I feel we should take her step by step and space out her races. I think she will stay further and her next race will be over a mile-and-a-quarter.� The Aga Khan’s homebred is the sixth foal and second winner produced by storied MG1SW European Horse of the Year Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) and is a half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero and G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). Like the winner, both Zarkava and Zarak were also conditioned by de Royer-Dupre. The bay, who retains entries in the May 13 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, May 27 G1 Prix Saint-Alary and June 17 G1 Prix de Diane, is also kin to a 2-year-old colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €12,500.