Wednesday 1 March 2023
The breeding season has started at Haras de Bonneval, with the three resident stallions, DARIYAN, SIYOUNI and ZARAK, set to welcome many visiting mares in the months ahead. ZARAK in particular has again seen high demand this season, and will cover a full book of 120.
This year will see ZARAK’s third crop of two-year-olds hit the track, and with their sire leading both the first and second crop sires tables in 2021 and 2022 respectively, their arrival on the racecourse is much anticipated. ZARAK has already had eight individual winners for 10 wins so far in 2023, including dual winner Iznik, 2½-length Deauville maiden winner Highwind and two-length maiden winner Karburan from his second crop of three-year-olds. This crop is his smallest to date but included four Group placed juveniles of 2022, including Group 3 hero Sirjan, as well as the likes of impressive Godolphin debutant Marquisat.
The aforementioned Highwind and Marquisat as well as Group-placed Rashford and Arcandi hold entries in the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club.
Meanwhile in Meydan recently ZARAK four-year-old Zagrey, already a Stakes winner in France, was a fast-finishing second behind the favourite in the Gr.3 Dubai Millennium Stakes (a race won by his sire in 2017). He is being aimed at the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic later this month.
