Zarkava the Champion French Filly
June 14th 2008 05:33
Champion French filly Zarkava easily won the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) 2100m at Chantilly, completing the French Triple Crown of fillies events, and remaining undefeated after five starts.
(AP photo: Remy de la Mauriniere)
Her Jockey, Christophe Soumillion, has great expectations of this filly and fully expects her to become the latest racing super star. She is owned by the Aga Khan and trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre
Her racing style is to ease into a race and settle towards the rear of the field. She uses no excess energy and simply bides her time until her jockey signals for an effort - when she then improves with smooth and swift acceleration and appears to glide effortlessly past her rivals.
So easily did she have her rivals covered in the premier fillies event that her jockey Christophe Soumillion shut down her engines over the last 50 metres and blew a kiss and waved to the crowd.
Her efforts have been aided in part by the inclusion of stablemates who ensured a strong pace in the Prix de Diane, while at her previous start at Longchamp in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Aiden O’Brien’s Halfway To Heaven set an extremely fast pace at the start of the race, which enabled Zarkava to finish in a course record time. Halfway To Heaven managed to hold on for a brave third.
(photo: Vanessa Ng)
The increase in distance to 2400m for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe appears ideal for this new star of racing, who has pedigree and performance to suggest that the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on the 5th of October at Longchamp is an achievable target. She has displayed this dazzling turn of foot at all distances contested and loves the open spaces of Longchamp.
The second best filly in France, Natagora, wisely avoided this new star of the turf and went to England instead where she won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
At this time bookmaker William Hill has the Aidan O'Brien Soldier Of Fortune favourite for the Arc at 4/1 after winning the Group One Juddmonte Coronation Cup over the Arc distance of mile and a half. Getaway is 2nd favourite at 5/1; while Epsom Derby winner New Approach and Zarkava are equal at 6/1.
A video replay of the Prix de Diane:
French racing c'est magnifique. Chantilly racetrack is amazing and this video is worth watching just for the venue alone. The commentators are excited and it flows through their commentary. Even if you don't speak French this is well worth watching. Zarkava races in dark green silks and cap with red strips on either shoulder. She is wearing a shadow roll and races towards the rear of the field.
Zarkava effortlessly wins Prix de Diane
(AP photo: Remy de la Mauriniere)
Her Jockey, Christophe Soumillion, has great expectations of this filly and fully expects her to become the latest racing super star. She is owned by the Aga Khan and trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre
Her racing style is to ease into a race and settle towards the rear of the field. She uses no excess energy and simply bides her time until her jockey signals for an effort - when she then improves with smooth and swift acceleration and appears to glide effortlessly past her rivals.
So easily did she have her rivals covered in the premier fillies event that her jockey Christophe Soumillion shut down her engines over the last 50 metres and blew a kiss and waved to the crowd.
Her efforts have been aided in part by the inclusion of stablemates who ensured a strong pace in the Prix de Diane, while at her previous start at Longchamp in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Aiden O’Brien’s Halfway To Heaven set an extremely fast pace at the start of the race, which enabled Zarkava to finish in a course record time. Halfway To Heaven managed to hold on for a brave third.
Zarkava jumps a shadow at Longchamp 2007
(photo: Vanessa Ng)
The increase in distance to 2400m for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe appears ideal for this new star of racing, who has pedigree and performance to suggest that the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on the 5th of October at Longchamp is an achievable target. She has displayed this dazzling turn of foot at all distances contested and loves the open spaces of Longchamp.
The second best filly in France, Natagora, wisely avoided this new star of the turf and went to England instead where she won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
At this time bookmaker William Hill has the Aidan O'Brien Soldier Of Fortune favourite for the Arc at 4/1 after winning the Group One Juddmonte Coronation Cup over the Arc distance of mile and a half. Getaway is 2nd favourite at 5/1; while Epsom Derby winner New Approach and Zarkava are equal at 6/1.
A video replay of the Prix de Diane:
French racing c'est magnifique. Chantilly racetrack is amazing and this video is worth watching just for the venue alone. The commentators are excited and it flows through their commentary. Even if you don't speak French this is well worth watching. Zarkava races in dark green silks and cap with red strips on either shoulder. She is wearing a shadow roll and races towards the rear of the field.
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