Zarkava

Zarkava
Racing silks of Aga Khan
Sire	Zamindar (USA)
Grandsire	Gone West
Dam	Zarkasha
Damsire	Kahyasi
Sex	Mare
Foaled	2005
Country	Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	HH Aga Khan IV
Owner	HH Aga Khan IV
Trainer	Alain de Royer-Dupre
Record	7: 7-0-0
Earnings	€3.364.620
Major wins
Prix Marcel Boussac (2007) Prix de la Grotte (2008) Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (2008) Prix de Diane (2008) Prix Vermeille (2008) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2008)
Awards
European Horse of the Year (2008) European Champion 3-Y-O Filly (2008)
Last updated on 18 November 2008

Zarkava (foaled 31 March 2005 in Ireland) is an undefeated French Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Bred and raced by HH Aga Khan IV, Zarkava was sired by Group II winner Zamindar who also sired the multiple Group One winner, Darjina. Out of the mare, Zarkasha, her damsire is Kahyasi, winner of the 1988 Epsom and Irish Derbys.

Zarkava made two starts at age two at Longchamp Racecourse, her home base in Paris for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. She won both the 2007 Prix de la Cascade for maiden fillies, and the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac. As a three-year-old, she made her 2008 debut in April at Longchamp with a win in the Group Three Prix de la Grotte followed by the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in which she set a new race record time. She then won the Prix de Diane at Chantilly Racecourse in June and back at Longchamp, September's 2,400 metres (1½ mile) Prix Vermeille. After stumbling out of the starting gate and losing at least a dozen lengths to the leaders, she came back from last to equal the race record time in winning the Prix Vermeille by two lengths.

Ridden by Christophe Soumillon in all her starts to date, Zarkava was the betting favorite leading up to the October 5th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In what was her first race against colts, Zarkava won the 2008 Arc with a powerful stretch drive to become the first filly in fifteen years to win the race. Zarkava was retired on 13 October 2008, with an undefeated record.