Graham Richards begins a series highlighting the top two-year-olds of 2007

Henrythenavigator | Kingsgate Native | Myboycharlie | New Approach | Proviso | Raven's Pass | Rio De La Plata | Winker Watson | Zarkava |

ZARKAVA (IRE) (31 Mar 2005) b f

Zamindar (USA) - Zarkasha (IRE) (Kahyasi)
Trainer: A De Royer-Dupre
FSF Rating: 115
Form: 11

Four-generation pedigree

Zarkava is out of Zamindar, sire of Darjina one of the seasons top fillies over a mile. Zarakava’s dam is an unraced mare by Kahyasi, a notable influence for stamina. Her breeding suggests ten-furlongs will be well within in her capabilities and a mile and a half does not appear beyond her. Zamindar’s son Corriolanus stayed a mile and half; he too, was out of a dam with stamina influences.

Zarkava made her debut in a one mile maiden and ran out an easy winner. Following a “stunning” piece of work on the gallops, connections decided to supplement her for the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac Royal Barriere de Deauville on Arc day. The field contained the unbeaten and highly touted Conference Call, Laureldean Gale runner-up to Proviso at Deauville, and Mad About You, a consistent top-class Irish filly with a good line to the top juvenile form.

Held up amongst the backmarkers she travelled smoothly off what was a good pace set by Conference Call. Straightening up for the home run, she was switched towards the rails and met trouble in running. With a furlong and a half to go, she was five lengths behind the leader, but in the clear. Asked to quicken, the response was immediate and electric; with half a furlong to run she hit the front. Remarkably, she passed the post two and a half lengths in front of Conference Call. The runner-up did not capitulate, while Mad About You was a length and a half further back in third.

The performance was one of the most visually stunning I have seen this season. The one worry I have is possible temperament problems. She looked very much on her toes and geed up before the race. Post race, she looked to my eyes a rather quirky individual. That of course may be down to precociousness; however, the look in her eye, captured by the television cameras, was illuminating.

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