Zarkava, a filly owned by the Aga Khan, posted a 3 length win in the prestigious Prix de Diane (Fr.
- Gr.
1) at Chantilly beating the filly Gagnoa a Group 3 winner, under the skillful riding of jockey Christophe Soumillon.
Zarkava is now unbeaten in five career races and may be headed for the Arc de Triomphe (Fr.
-Gr.
1) at Longchamps in October according to trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre.
Though racing near the back of the pack to the head of the stretch, the filly launched her bid up the center of the track showing a good burst of speed and tremendous class.
She won the 2,100 meter event going away despite a good run by the Sadler's Wells filly Gagnoa who was going well, but couldn't match the effort of Zarkava.
Zarkava so impressed the Aga Khan that he agreed with the trainer that she may be headed for the Arc de' Triomphe adding, "She is the best filly I've ever owned and she has a marvelous pedigree going back to the family's outstanding racemare Petite Etoille.
" That is high praise coming from a man who has owned so many beautiful champions over the years.
Zarkava was bred in Ireland out of the unraced Kahyasi mare Zarkhasa.
It comes as no surprise that this potent jockey-trainer-owner combination should win the French Oaks in such an impressive fashion.
Soumillon previously won the Classic aboard Lattice in 2004.
The Aga Khan and trainer Royer-Dupre have won the French Oaks five times.
With those combinations and an unbeaten filly, one wonders just how far this team will go and we may have to wait until October to find out when the Arc de' Triomphe is run.