His Highness the Aga Khan has decided to retire Zarkava to stud, following her win in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last Sunday. After a week’s reflection and discussion with both Zarkava’s trainer, Alain de Royer Dupré and the Aga Khan’s management team, His Highness has decided not to race Zarkava as a four-year-old.

She will retire to stud unbeaten in seven races spanning five Group 1 wins including: the Prix Marcel Boussac as a two-year-old, the Prix Vermeille, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe plus victories in the two classics of the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane.

His Highness said “whilst no-one will regret more than my management team and I not to see Zarkava race again, as she is such a supreme athlete, we have decided to retire her to the Aga Khan broodmare band, as she will be an invaluable asset to this essential part of our activity. The quality and youth of our broodmare band is of the utmost importance to ensure we remain breeders of racehorses capable of performing at the top level. The Aga Khan Studs have produced three exceptional fillies in three consecutive years: Mandesha, Darjina and now Zarkava. Their addition to our broodmare band will enhance the economic value and the potential for success of future generations of Aga Khan bloodstock at a time when competition is becoming increasingly global.”

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the people employed at my Irish and French studs for their remarkable work. Without their tireless dedication, we would not be able to breed and race champions like Zarkava, Sinndar, Azamour and Dalakhani. Furthermore Alain de Royer Dupré, Christophe Soumillon and the staff at the Aiglemont Training Centre, must be applauded for their admirable work in producing Zarkava at the top of her form for all of her seven wonderful races”.

It has also been decided that Dalakhani, the Aga Khan’s 2003 Arc winner, will cover Zarkava for her first season at stud in 2009. Dalakhani has had a successful start to his stallion career, following the Group 1 wins of Moonstone (Irish Oaks) and Conduit (St Leger) from his first crop of three-year-olds in 2008.

Updated on 13/10/2008