Zarkava's final prep race prior to the Arc was the Group 1-Prix Vermeille on September 14th at Longchamp, and it was nothing short of breathtaking. I've posted the video below along with her victory in the Group 1-Prix de Diane at Chantilly in June.
In the Prix Vermeille it is very easy to find Zarkava early on in the race as she is the very last horse in the field. The field is quite strung out, indicating a solid pace, even by European standards, and Zarkava is a good ten lengths back from the front of the pack and probably 15+ from the early pacesetter. Watch the five-wide move she makes coming into the stretch as her acceleration is nothing short of astonishing. What's even more impressive is that this move, like her finishing kick in the Arc, was all done under a handride.
The victory in the Prix de Diane is a relative walk-in-the-park. Much closer to the early pace, Zarkava bides her time and easily sprints by the field in the stretch, once again doing all her work under a handride. She wins going away and probably could have won by more if the jockey had asked her. In fact, if you watch the slo-motion replay following the race, you'll see that jockey Christophe Soumillion was blowing kissing to the crowd before Zarkava even crosses the finish line. Soumillion has her wrapped up with one hand while he's gesturing to the crowd with the other, and she's still drawing away from the rest of the field.
This is one incredible filly.
Prix Vermeille at Longchamp
Prix de Diane at Chantilly
In the Prix Vermeille it is very easy to find Zarkava early on in the race as she is the very last horse in the field. The field is quite strung out, indicating a solid pace, even by European standards, and Zarkava is a good ten lengths back from the front of the pack and probably 15+ from the early pacesetter. Watch the five-wide move she makes coming into the stretch as her acceleration is nothing short of astonishing. What's even more impressive is that this move, like her finishing kick in the Arc, was all done under a handride.
The victory in the Prix de Diane is a relative walk-in-the-park. Much closer to the early pace, Zarkava bides her time and easily sprints by the field in the stretch, once again doing all her work under a handride. She wins going away and probably could have won by more if the jockey had asked her. In fact, if you watch the slo-motion replay following the race, you'll see that jockey Christophe Soumillion was blowing kissing to the crowd before Zarkava even crosses the finish line. Soumillion has her wrapped up with one hand while he's gesturing to the crowd with the other, and she's still drawing away from the rest of the field.
This is one incredible filly.
Prix Vermeille at Longchamp
Prix de Diane at Chantilly