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Zarkava produces first foal
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| Zarkava foaled a Dalakhani filly and will visit Sea the Stars
(Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) |
The Aga Khan's unbeaten ZARKAVA (Zamindar), Europe's Horse of the
Year in 2008, produced her first foal on Saturday evening in Ireland.
The filly, sired by the Aga Khan's Dalakhani, was born at 9:30 p.m.,
according to the Aga Khan Studs website.
Pat Downes, the Irish Manager of the Aga Khan Studs, was on hand to
witness the foaling.
The Dalakhani-Zarkava filly is "a lovely individual that is correct,
strong and full of quality," Downes observed. "It was a straightforward
foaling, and Zarkava has proved herself to be a good mother. The
Dalakhani filly is a good size for a first foal."
The filly is the offspring of two sensational performers, both
winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Dalakhani claimed the
spoils in 2003, and Zarkava capped her perfect seven-for-seven career in
the 2008 Arc.
Each also captured French classic races, with Dalakhani winning the
Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1) and Zarkava capturing the
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) and
Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1). |
Like Zarkava, Dalakhani was himself honored as Europe's Horse of the Year in
the wake of his Arc victory. Unlike Zarkava, he suffered one defeat, a
half-length loss in the Irish Derby (Ire-G1).
Plans call for Zarkava to visit another scintillating Arc hero, world
champion Sea the Stars, in 2010.
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