H.H. the Aga Khan’s Sarafina (Refuse to Bend) has been rewarded for her magnificent 2010 season in the annual awards ceremony organised by French racing and breeding publication Courses & Elevage. Selections for these awards are made by members of the specialised press and Sarafina was elected best three-year-old filly for the 2010 campaign, ahead of dual Guineas winner Special Duty (Hennessy) and Gr.1 Prix de l’Opéra scorer Lily Of The Valley (Galileo).

The accolade was earned after an impeccable five-race season, during which Sarafina remained unbeaten in the first semester to lift both the Gr.1 Prix Saint-Alary on her second start only and Prix de Diane, beating stablemate Rosanara (Sinndar). In the second part of the campaign, Sarafina was an unlucky-in-running third to Workforce (King’s Best) and Nakayama Festa (Stay Gold) in the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, after filling the same spot in the Gr.1 Prix Vermeille behind older fillies and Group 1 winners Midday and Plumania.

Sarafina is a daughter of Darshaan mare Sanariya, dam also of Group 1 runner-up and Listed victrix Sanaya (Barathea) and Group 3 and Listed placed Sanjida (Polish Precedent).

The lightly-raced filly remains in training with Alain de Royer Dupré for 2011 when she is likely to be a leading force in middle distance contests across Europe.