Zarkava’s class shone through in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp on Sunday. Zarkava justified her lofty reputation with a stunning performance to lift the mile Classic. Settled in the second half of the field as the leading fillies set a scorching gallop in the early stages of the contest, Zarkava was asked by Christophe Soumillon to make her move at the entrance to the straight. The Aga Khan’s filly wove her way through the pack before producing a second irresistible burst of speed around a furlong from home. She flew effortlessly into the lead to score by an official margin of two lengths. The jockey was most impressed by his partner, stating, “she has exceptional speed.” Her trainer Alain de Royer Dupré echoed these sentiments, “She’s exceptional and didn’t have a hard race today.”

Zarkava’s success was achieved in a new record time of 1’35”20, half a second faster than the previous record set by the Aga Khan’s Zalaiyka in 1998. Zarkava succeeds Princess Zahra Khan’s Darjina on the roll of honour for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, however she is set to follow a different route to that of the triple Gr 1-winning miler. HH Aga Khan confirmed, “She should now go for the Prix de Diane. She gives the impression in her races that she will stay further.” Zarkava will attempt to become the fifth carrier of the famous green and red silks to lift the Chantilly Classic after Shemaka, Vereva, Zainta and Daryaba who were all successful in the 1990s.

Updated on 13/05/2008