The Aga Khan’s jewel of a filly was a class above her rivals in the Prix de Diane. Zarkava’s victory in the Chantilly Classic enabled her to join an elite selection of only three fillies to have completed the Prix Marcel Boussac, Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Prix de Diane Group 1 treble. The daughter of Zamindar follows in the footsteps of the legendary Allez France and Divine Proportions, while she herself is from legendary stock as her fifth dam was the outstanding racemare Petite Etoile.

Zarkava was attempting the distance of 2100 meters for the first time in the Prix de Diane, and she never gave her jockey Christophe Soumillon an anxious moment, eventually cruising home by an effortless three lengths. She is now unbeaten in all five outings and still seems far from reaching her limits. Trainer Alain de Royer Dupré commented, “She’s a real jewel of a filly. I do not see any reason why she should not stay 2400 meters, she certainly has the class to do so. Today there was plenty of pace in the race and it was in the latter part of the race that she was at her best.”

HH Aga Khan, who was winning his fifth Diane after the successes of Shemaka, Vereva, Zainta and Daryaba in the nineties, said of Zarkava, “I believe that she is out of the ordinary,” while Alain de Royer Dupré had the last word when adding, “For the moment she has nothing but qualities.”

Tha Prix de Diane was the highlight of a Chantilly trio for the Aga Khan as Alpine Rose won the opening maiden and Shemima, a daughter of Dalakhani and Shemaka lifted the second event on the card. The famous silks enjoyed a memorable Classic weekend as Katiyra finished third in the Epsom Oaks two days earlier. The filly, who was only racing for the third time, will now be aimed at the Irish Oaks.

Updated on 09/06/2008