Princesse Zahra Aga Khan’s triple Group 1 winner bows out. Following yet another gallant second place in Saturday’s Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket, connections announced that Darjina will be retired to stud. The four-year-old was filling the runner-up position for a sixth consecutive occasion in as many outings at the highest level this season. Alain de Royer Dupré’s charge began the year when headed close home in the nine-furlong Dubai Duty Free and followed that performance with a second behind stablemate Sageburg in the Prix d’Ispahan. Once again against the colts, Darjina narrowly missed out when failing by a head to catch multiple Australian Gr 1 winner in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

During her illustrious career, Darjina finished out of the first three on only one occasion, when unsuited by very testing ground in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in 2007. The filly won a total of five races, including highlights the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Prix d’Astarté and Prix du Moulin, all aged three. In the latter contest Darjina beat her male counterparts and achieved a rating of 122, which earned her the accolade of best turf female in the international classifications at the end of her three-year-old campaign.

Like Zarkava, Darjina is a daughter of Zamindar. She is the first offspring of winning dam Darinska who finished third in the Gr 3 Prix de Royaumont and is a close relative of Prix du Jockey-Club victor Darsi. Darinska has also produced Dariena who has won one race and Darbaza who is in training with Alain de Royer Dupré. She has a yearling filly by dual Classic sire Dalakhani.