THEY MADE THE NEWS
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ZARIGANA : ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF GENIUS
In two stunning victories , the 2-yearold filly Zarigana has rekindled the flame ignited 17 years earlier by her granddam , the champion Zarkava . But can we really compare the two fillies at this stage of their careers ? Alain de Royer Dupré , who trained Zarkava and is closely following Zarigana , whose dam he also trained , gives us his analysis ...
All those who witnessed the career of the champion Zarkava have been searching for a filly worthy of succeeding her . Initially , attention focused on her progeny , but while some , like Zarak , who became a sought-after stallion after winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud ( Gr1 ), made their mark , none reached the heights achieved by the prodigious winner of the 2007 Arc . This is very likely one of the reasons why Chantilly was buzzing well before the fireworks of July 14th , when Zarigana passed the post in the Prix de la Butte Blanche with a four-length lead . Bred by the Aga Khan , whose colours she carries , she was making her racecourse debut against nine other newcomers , starting as the 11 / 10 favourite . She is not one of Zarkava ’ s five daughters , but one of her eight granddaughters , out of Zarkamiya ( Frankel ), who ended a short racing career with a 3rd place in the Prix Vermeille ( Gr1 ). Zarkava ’ s trainer , Alain de Royer Dupré , now retired , was at Chantilly when Zarigana won for the first time , and he was enthusiastic when interviewed by Equidia immediately after this first victory . There was a real buzz . The Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac ( Gr1 ), the championship race for 2-year-old fillies on Arc weekend , was immediately mentioned for Zarigana . Zarkava went straight there after winning her debut , but two months later than her granddaughter , who could have an extra trial before stepping into the big arena . Her trainer , Francis-Henri Graffard , therefore prepared her for the Prix d ’ Aumale ( Gr3 ), and as expected , the filly passed the test with flying colours : she won by three lengths against rivals whose form was already well established . Comparisons between Zarigana and Zarkava have been rife ever since , and Sunday ’ s verdict in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac will undoubtedly add fuel to the fire . In the meantime , Alain de Royer Dupré gives us his analysis : « Zarigana is more like her dam than her granddam , Zarkava . Her dam Zarkamiya had a slightly high knee action but she didn ’ t use her hindquarters quite like this one . The common point between Zarkava and Zarigana is their class , their responsiveness and their acceleration . Physically , they are very different . Zarkava is rather small , close to the ground , discreet physically . Zarigana has an impressive physique with great scope and a lot of reach . This physical difference results in a different flow . Zarkava lowers herself to accelerate . Zarigana covers a lot of ground without fully using her hindquarters . They both have genius , there ’ s no doubt , but not the same expression of that genius .» The adventure continues this Sunday over the 1,600 metres of the Critérium des Pouliches , the other name for the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac .
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LOOK DE VEGA , THE MAGNIFICENT
His two breeding careers , his association with Mr . Urano , the Arc and what ’ s next . The breeder of Look de Vega , Joëlle Mestrallet , confides in us for D-day .
The gate opens to reveal an instantly calming place , where everything is dedicated to the horse and where beauty blends with functionality . The paddocks have historically been home to sport horses that have taken breeding to the highest level . For some time now , they have also been home to Thoroughbreds , with their finer physiques . The stud has indeed opened its doors to racehorses for rest after sales or during their racing careers , but also for breeding . A discipline that has always fascinated Joëlle Mestrallet , a genetics enthusiast at the head of Haras de la Morsanglière , where she succeeded her mother in 2011 to steer it towards racing and welcome mares for breeding and youngstock for sales preparation . This is where Look de Vega was bred . The impressive winner of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club ( Gr1 ) in June is now lining up for the Qatar Prix de l ’ Arc de Triomphe ( Gr1 ). The champion is the result of a decisive encounter with Lucien Urano , a horseman with a keen knowledge of racing and bloodlines . On the advice of Henri Bozo , the duo acquired a mare named Lucelle , after Lucien and Joëlle . She would first carry the stud ’ s colours to victory and produce the winners Graine de Pastel , Alma Bella , and then the prodigious Look de Vega . A son of Lope de Vega , the colt « already walked like a god at the stud ». The gleam in Joëlle ’ s eyes when she talks about her horses is
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