French Superstar Zarkava Pensioned From Broodmare Duty

[Wandering Eyes]

His Highness The Aga Khan's undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and Group 1 producer Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) will not be bred next year and has been pensioned, The Aga Khan's Studs announced on Wednesday. The 19-year-old daughter of Zarkasha (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire})'s final foal is a filly by Siyouni (Fr) born on Feb. 2, 2024.

Foaled on the final day of March in 2005, the Alain de Royer-Dupre trainee won her seven starts by a combined 16 lengths, all barring her Longchamp maiden made in group company. After a score in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac in her juvenile finale, the bay resumed with a 2 1/2-length tally in the G3 Prix de la Grotte in April and duly added the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May. Her G1 Prix de Diane victory was Zarkava's largest winning margin, when she prevailed over Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) by three lengths, with subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Mile darling Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) third in June. Given a break during the heat of the summer, Zarkava resumed in September of 2008 with a win in the G1 Prix Vermeille, and became one of just a handful of fillies to win the Arc in her swansong that October. She was named the 2008 Cartier Horse of the Year.

With earnings just under $4.8 million, Zarkava was the highlight of her dam's progeny, which also featured G3 Prix Minerve heroine Zarshana (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), herself the dam of G1 Prix Ganay second Zarir (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

At stud, Zarkava foaled a trio of stakes winners anchored by current Aga Khan stallion Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a winner of the G1 Prix de Saint-Cloud who was second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Prix Ganay. The other pair were both fillies–listed winner and G1 Prix Vermeille third Zarkamiya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) and listed winner Zaykava (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).

Merci #Zarkava

The Champion racemare and Gr.1 producer has been retired from breeding after producing a Siyouni?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Siyouni filly earlier this year.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan celebrates her outstanding achievements on the track and in the paddock: https://t.co/KKB7BtZOBq

— Aga Khan Studs (@AgaKhanStuds) October 2, 2024

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