Darjina Bounces Back at Deauville

Darjina made amends for her third place finish at Royal Ascot by battling back to win the Prix d’Astarte (Fr-I) by a half-length at Deauville on Sunday.

With the victory, Darjina made it back-to-back wins for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre and owner Princess Zahra Aga Khan, whose filly, Mandesha, captured the race in 2006.

Darjina was making her first start since finishing a well-beaten third to Indian Ink in the Coronation Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot in June.  Prior to that, the daughter of Zamindar had captured the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fr-I) at Longchamp over champion Finsceal Beo.

Jockey Thierry Thulliez, who was substituting for a suspended Christophe Soumillon, kept Darjina just off the lead in fourth as Prix de Sandringham (Fr-II) victress All Is Vanity set the pace.  Darjina took the lead with two furlongs left, and then held on gamely as Missvinski came on with a strong run on the outside.  Missvinski appeared to take the lead just a few strides from the wire, but Darjina fought back under Thulliez to win by a half-length.

Simply Perfect, who was coming off an impressive win in the Falmouth Stakes (Eng-I) in her last start, finished third under Kieren Fallon, another half-length further back.

Time for the mile was 1:37.1 over a soft turf course.

Winning rider Thulliez praised his comrade Soumillon afterwards.  “Christophe helped me with this win.  I spoke to him this morning and he told me that she’s a filly you always have to believe in.  She showed courage and tremendous class to repel Missvinski.”

Darjina, who is out of the Zilzal mare, Darinska, may make her next start in the Haras de Fresnay le Buffard Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-I) on August 19.