Breeding & Racing Magazine

Europe Horse-Of-Year Zarkava In-Foal To Dalakhani

In Europe overnight, The Aga Khan's stud manager Pat Downes confirmed last year's unbeaten home-bred 3YO filly Zarkava (who was named both 2008 European Horse-Of-The-Year at the Cartier Awards & French Horse-Of-The-Year) is in-foal to The Aga Khan's 4-time Gr1-winner & 2003 French Arc de Triomphe winner Dalakhani (Darshaan-Daltawa, by Miswaki). Zarkava retired unbeaten at the end of last season, after winning all 5 of her starts in 2008 (including the French Gr1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400m against older rivals at Longchamp, Gr1 Prix Vermeille over 2400m against older rivals at Longchamp, Gr1 Prix De Diane-French Oaks over 2100m at Chantilly, Gr1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-1000 Guineas over 1600m at Longchamp & Gr3 Prix De La Grotte over 1600m at Longchamp) to add to her 2-from-2 record as a juvenile (including France's Gr1 Prix Marcel Boussac over 1600m at Longchamp). Dalakhani sired 2 Classic winners from his 1st-crop in 2008: Gr1 Irish Oaks winner Moonstone, plus UK Gr1 St Leger & US Gr1 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit; he stands at owner-breeder The Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland's County Kildare at €50,000 (A$95,000).