Fond memories of Champion racemare Zarkava were revived at Deauville on Thursday afternoon as her son Zarak made short work of his rivals on his racecourse début.

The colt was always in control during the Prix de Saint-Désir, a race which was won by dual Group 1 winner Make Believe (Makfi) in 2014. Jockey Christophe Soumillon was biding his time towards the rear of the field in the early stages of the mile event. Rounding the final turn, Soumillon asked Zarak for an effort and he quickly changed gear, smoothly passing his rivals to take the lead a furlong and a half from the winning post. He was unextended to score by a length and a quarter.

A satisfied Alain de Royer-Dupré, who handled Zarkava during her illustrious racing career, saw points of comparison between Zarak and his dam. "We saw exactly what we hoped to see today. He showed the same acceleration that his dam used to be capable of. He proved that he has a lot of class. As soon as his jockey asked him, in just a few strides he left the others behind." Zarak will now be put away over the winter and will have his next outing in 2016.

Zarak is the fourth offspring of Arc heroine Zarkava, and her first runner. Her maternal family traces back to foundation mare Petite Etoile and further back to one of the first yearlings purchased by the Aga Khan III, Mumtaz Mahal, who is the ninth dam of both Zarkava and this year’s Arc winner Golden Horn.

Zarkava is dam of a yearling colt, named Zarmitan, by Redoute’s Choice and of a filly foal by Frankel who has recently been weaned. She is currently in foal to Invincible Spirit. Zarkava’s first offspring, a daughter of Dalakhani named Zerkaza, gave birth to a filly foal by Exceed And Excel in March and is now in foal to Oasis Dream.