With a tremendous charge over the final quarter of a mile, the Aga Khan's undefeated Zarkava registered a three-length win in the Prix de Diane (Fr-I) at Chantilly June 9.
The Irish-bred daughter of Zamindar gave the Aga Khan and trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre their fifth consecutive win in the French Oaks. She could have a date in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Longchamp in October, her owner said afterward.
Christophe Soumillon rode Zarkava to victory, toying with the field while rallying past her rivals over the middle of the straight. Gagnoa finished well to take second, with Goldikova third and Proviso fourth.
Zarkiva has won five races in a row, including three group I efforts.
"This filly is out of the ordinary and the best of her sex I've ever trained," her trainer told Racing Post.
Added the Aga Khan: “Why not the Arc de Triomphe now? We need some time to think about it, of course, and to see how the filly comes out of the race but the Arc is certainly not excluded."
The final time for the about 1 1/4-mile distance was 2:07.1 on good to soft going.
