Zarkava (prematurely?) retired
October 14th 2008 04:53
The racing career of Zarkava has come to a premature conclusion as her owner the Aga Khan has decided to retire her immediately to further strengthen the depth of his breeding enterprise.
(photo: www.sportinglife.com)
Being only a 3 year old filly I had hoped - as had anticipated the bookmakers who made her early favourite to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe of 2009 - that she would race for one more season.
The Aga Khan was very proud of his ability to breed this champion filly. He cites the quality and ‘youth’ of his broodmare stock as an important reason why the Aga Khan’s studs have been able to produce (as an example) three exceptional fillies in three consecutive years: Mandesha, Darjina and Zarkava.
And their brilliance on display at the racetrack gives all of us much joy - but to my mind the cycle is attuned too greatly (too quickly) to the breeding side of racing. We sometimes get to see our champions for too short a space of time.
The connections of Curlin can be much admired for racing him through his 4 year old year with the possibility that a defeat may tarnish a reputation. But instead of tarnish it is enhanced by his longevity and continued success (of course the other reason he continued to race may include the prolonged court case involving some of his owners - but we will take the side of the angels in this and praise the decision).
We need to be careful that the industry of horseracing (the breeding side) does not take over the very reason for the thoroughbred, with the (very brief) racetrack appearances nothing more than advertising for a multimillion dollar breeding enterprise. After all, they are racehorses.
The decision to retire Zarkava came after protracted discussions between the Aga Khan’s racing management team and trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre. She retires undefeated with her greatest glory being her final racetrack appearance when she so easily won the greatest race in the racing world.
"While no-one will regret more than my management team and I not to see Zarkava race again, we have decided to retire her to the Aga Khan broodmare band as she will be an invaluable asset to this essential part of our activity." - The Aga Khan.
“The Arc was the best race for her because when she crossed the finishing line, she had won so easily. That was unbelievable - especially as she hit traffic jams during the race. I always said her greatest quality was her acceleration. The ability to make up so much space in such a short space of time - like she showed in the Vermeille - was incredible."
"It is not very often a horse like this comes along - I have been very lucky. She is possibly the best I have trained, but Dalakhani was also a great horse to have. Zarkava has been a beautiful story." - Alain De Royer-Dupre.
Zarkava won both French 3 year old classics - the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) and Prix de Diane (French Oaks).
Timeform have rated Zarkava at 133 and consider that she will go down as one of the best fillies and mares of all time.
"Not only was Zarkava unbeaten in seven races, five of them achieved in Group 1 company, but she left the impression in pretty much every one that she wasn't put to her very best, doing really well to come from unpromising positions in both the Vermeille and Arc.”
"In other words, she had the potential to be one of the best fillies of all time, though sadly we won't now get the chance to find out if that might have been the case." - spokesperson from Timeform.
Zarkava will retire as one of the greatest fillies or mares to ever race. If she had raced for just one more season she may well have been then regarded as the greatest of all time.
Zarkava will be covered by the Aga Khan’s 2003 Arc winner Dalakhani in her first season at stud in 2009. The son of Darshaan has made a successful start to his stallion career following the Group One wins of Moonstone (Irish Oaks) and Conduit (St Leger) from his first crop of three-year-olds in 2008.
Zarkava retires undefeated after 7 starts
(photo: www.sportinglife.com)
Being only a 3 year old filly I had hoped - as had anticipated the bookmakers who made her early favourite to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe of 2009 - that she would race for one more season.
The Aga Khan was very proud of his ability to breed this champion filly. He cites the quality and ‘youth’ of his broodmare stock as an important reason why the Aga Khan’s studs have been able to produce (as an example) three exceptional fillies in three consecutive years: Mandesha, Darjina and Zarkava.
And their brilliance on display at the racetrack gives all of us much joy - but to my mind the cycle is attuned too greatly (too quickly) to the breeding side of racing. We sometimes get to see our champions for too short a space of time.
The connections of Curlin can be much admired for racing him through his 4 year old year with the possibility that a defeat may tarnish a reputation. But instead of tarnish it is enhanced by his longevity and continued success (of course the other reason he continued to race may include the prolonged court case involving some of his owners - but we will take the side of the angels in this and praise the decision).
We need to be careful that the industry of horseracing (the breeding side) does not take over the very reason for the thoroughbred, with the (very brief) racetrack appearances nothing more than advertising for a multimillion dollar breeding enterprise. After all, they are racehorses.
The decision to retire Zarkava came after protracted discussions between the Aga Khan’s racing management team and trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre. She retires undefeated with her greatest glory being her final racetrack appearance when she so easily won the greatest race in the racing world.
"While no-one will regret more than my management team and I not to see Zarkava race again, we have decided to retire her to the Aga Khan broodmare band as she will be an invaluable asset to this essential part of our activity." - The Aga Khan.
“The Arc was the best race for her because when she crossed the finishing line, she had won so easily. That was unbelievable - especially as she hit traffic jams during the race. I always said her greatest quality was her acceleration. The ability to make up so much space in such a short space of time - like she showed in the Vermeille - was incredible."
"It is not very often a horse like this comes along - I have been very lucky. She is possibly the best I have trained, but Dalakhani was also a great horse to have. Zarkava has been a beautiful story." - Alain De Royer-Dupre.
Zarkava won both French 3 year old classics - the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) and Prix de Diane (French Oaks).
Timeform have rated Zarkava at 133 and consider that she will go down as one of the best fillies and mares of all time.
"Not only was Zarkava unbeaten in seven races, five of them achieved in Group 1 company, but she left the impression in pretty much every one that she wasn't put to her very best, doing really well to come from unpromising positions in both the Vermeille and Arc.”
"In other words, she had the potential to be one of the best fillies of all time, though sadly we won't now get the chance to find out if that might have been the case." - spokesperson from Timeform.
Zarkava will retire as one of the greatest fillies or mares to ever race. If she had raced for just one more season she may well have been then regarded as the greatest of all time.
Zarkava will be covered by the Aga Khan’s 2003 Arc winner Dalakhani in her first season at stud in 2009. The son of Darshaan has made a successful start to his stallion career following the Group One wins of Moonstone (Irish Oaks) and Conduit (St Leger) from his first crop of three-year-olds in 2008.
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