Broodmare Focus: Zarkava

Zarkava retired to stud in 2009. She ended her career unbeaten in seven races with a remarkable six of them at Group one Level. Trained in France by Alain Royer Dupre for her owner and breeder HH The Aga Khan. Zarkava ran in the Prix Marcel Boussac on just her second ever start beating some of Europe's best fillies.
At three she won the Prix De Diane, Poulenc d'essai des pouliches beating Halfway To Heaven and Goldikova, the Prix de la Grote, Prix Vermeille and her biggest and most amazing success the Prix De Arc De Triomphe beating a high class field.

These victories earned Zarkava the well deserved title of European Champion three year old filly and EU horse of the year. After her Arc success Zarkava was retired to stud.

Zarkava was foaled in March 2005 at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud. By Zamindar, a successful sire for Juddmonte Farms she is out of the unraced mare Zarkasha. Zarkasha is also the dam of Zarkandar a successful horse over hurdles, she has a two year old filly by Sea The Stars and will visit New Approach this coming season.

Zarna is her 2nd dam a winner one race from seven starts. Zarna is the dam of Listed winner and Group placed Zarannda and minor winner Zarlana. She is also grand dam of miner winners Zaralabad and Smart Red both winners over hurdles.

Zarkava's 3rd dam is Zahra, she is the dam of Listed placed Zallaka. This is from the family of the high class Petite Etoile who is Zarkava's 4th dam.

Zarkava became the only real high class filly to come from her family for a while since her fourth dam, her dam Zarkasha was unraced but her 2nd and 3rd dams had no major success on the racecourse nor did many of their offspring. This however Would not put me off in thinking Zarkava won't be a successful Broodmare although she has an unknown future ahead in a bid to become an outstanding mare.

Zarkava's first foal is Zerkani a daughter if fellow Arc winner Dalakhani, this three year old has yet to race an is currently with Alain Royer Dupre. Zarkava made history when she was mated with another Arc winner in the mighty Sea The Stars. the resulting foal, a colt has been ZARKASH and is in training also with Alain Royer Dupre. Zarkava also has a Galileo yearling colt , a colt foal by Dubawi and is currently in foal to Redoute's Choice.

Unsurprisingly Zarkava's progeny have got a lot of attention most notable Zarkash. The only negativity surrounding Zarkava as a Broodmare personally for me is her 2nd and 3rd dams fairly poor record at stud. But her own dam has gone on to prove herself at stud so hopefully Zarkava can do the same.

She has been bred to the best sires out there and I would love to see her visit a Juddmonte sire in time as her sire is a Juddmonte bred horse. Zarkava is open to Danehill and Sadler's Wells sire lines and I think she could do well with Dansili or Oasis Dream.