Bloodstock & Breeding
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This stallion has had a fine start to his career mostly from mares some way adrift of top class, so as his fee has doubled I hope he gets better quality mares from now on..
Very few of his progeny have raced in UK, and those few have not shown much so far.. the only winner is Island Bandit, which won at 125/1 in a Newbury maiden for Heather Main last summer, then disappointed after.. a couple of placed horses, but all his best have been in France, Germany and further East..
I think his best so far has been Purplepay, a filly who romped home in a conditions race at Arc weekend, could have won by 10 lengths, then really should have won the Criterium International at St. Cloud, unfortunately Maxim Guyon rode a poor race in my opinion, got terribly boxed in at the back and finished like a rocket in 3rd.. surely would have won that.. her final 200m time was quicker than the first 2..
Sold for 2 million Euros as Arqana now gone to the U.S. Which is a pity, I shall have trouble keeping up to date..
Times Square another good filly, 2nd in the Marcel Boussac.. in Germany Lizaid won the top 2yo fillies race... Parnac a promising filly won 2 from 2 and a colt called Lavello, who might have German Derby aspirations... for what it's worth Zarak is also the sire of the top filly in Czech Republic called Queen of Beaufay...
He has a number of promising maiden winners in France, but 2 I would put out there that I can't wait to see again are La Parisienne who won impressively by 5 lengths in a maiden at Deauville on polytrack, and Sabio Cen who scooted home on grass in a 1800m maiden at Fontainbleau.. the 3rd, a Fabre horse beaten 8 lengths, won next time out.. Sabio Cen is entered in the Prix du Jockey Club, might not be up to that but perhaps the Prix la Force coming up next month might be his thing.. originally with C. Ferland now with Christopher Head..
Zarak also has runners in the Middle East... just the other day he had an astonishing winner of a modest maiden at Al Rayyan, Doha.. a 3 yr old filly called Halawat al Rouh... she got 8kg off the others who were all 4 yr olds, and she won the race Zarkava style, by coming almost last to first, flying home in the straight... the mile really suited her.. She was ridden by Marco Casamento but previously over 1200m by Maxim Guyon who I suspect told them to up her in trip.. She needed all of the mile.. I do hope she goes on to better things..
A few others in France... maiden winner Haya Zark, previously placed in some good maidens... Lady Grey won her maiden at Chantilly and Zarakhan is 2 from 3 at Bordeaux – he should be 3 from 3 but he missed the break..
ZARAK – Dubawi / Zarkava
Very few of his progeny have raced in UK, and those few have not shown much so far.. the only winner is Island Bandit, which won at 125/1 in a Newbury maiden for Heather Main last summer, then disappointed after.. a couple of placed horses, but all his best have been in France, Germany and further East..
I think his best so far has been Purplepay, a filly who romped home in a conditions race at Arc weekend, could have won by 10 lengths, then really should have won the Criterium International at St. Cloud, unfortunately Maxim Guyon rode a poor race in my opinion, got terribly boxed in at the back and finished like a rocket in 3rd.. surely would have won that.. her final 200m time was quicker than the first 2..
Sold for 2 million Euros as Arqana now gone to the U.S. Which is a pity, I shall have trouble keeping up to date..
Times Square another good filly, 2nd in the Marcel Boussac.. in Germany Lizaid won the top 2yo fillies race... Parnac a promising filly won 2 from 2 and a colt called Lavello, who might have German Derby aspirations... for what it's worth Zarak is also the sire of the top filly in Czech Republic called Queen of Beaufay...
He has a number of promising maiden winners in France, but 2 I would put out there that I can't wait to see again are La Parisienne who won impressively by 5 lengths in a maiden at Deauville on polytrack, and Sabio Cen who scooted home on grass in a 1800m maiden at Fontainbleau.. the 3rd, a Fabre horse beaten 8 lengths, won next time out.. Sabio Cen is entered in the Prix du Jockey Club, might not be up to that but perhaps the Prix la Force coming up next month might be his thing.. originally with C. Ferland now with Christopher Head..
Zarak also has runners in the Middle East... just the other day he had an astonishing winner of a modest maiden at Al Rayyan, Doha.. a 3 yr old filly called Halawat al Rouh... she got 8kg off the others who were all 4 yr olds, and she won the race Zarkava style, by coming almost last to first, flying home in the straight... the mile really suited her.. She was ridden by Marco Casamento but previously over 1200m by Maxim Guyon who I suspect told them to up her in trip.. She needed all of the mile.. I do hope she goes on to better things..
A few others in France... maiden winner Haya Zark, previously placed in some good maidens... Lady Grey won her maiden at Chantilly and Zarakhan is 2 from 3 at Bordeaux – he should be 3 from 3 but he missed the break..
ZARAK – Dubawi / Zarkava
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A nice win today at provincial track Le Croise-Laroche, for Zarak The Brave, a 3yo colt out of a modest jumps winning mare.. the trip was 2500m and Le Croise-Laroche is a tight L-H track...
He was soon in front, made all, and quickened clear about 2f out, unchallenged... official distance 7L but he could have won by 15 lengths.. it was a typically poor maiden although a couple had been running in Longchamp maidens.. A very convenient win too, as Zarak The Brave comes up for sale at Arqana on 29th March... it's a dispersal sale as the owner passed away... he's Lot no. 11.. I do hope he doesn't get bought up by a jumps trainer, I'd like to see him remain on the flat, he could make a good distance horse.. |
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Well the dispersal sale of Mme Bryant's horses didn't happen today, it's been postponed..
Haya Zark ran a great race today in the Prix Comrade at St. Cloud, made most, just touched off near the line. Unfancied 4th of 5 in the betting and his young trainer Adrien Fouassier seemed disappointed not to have pulled that off.. Zarafa 3rd in the Prix Kizil Kourgan, a fillies conditions race, started favourite.. didn't seem placed to challenge today but she only won a maiden at Tarbes previously. Entered in all the French fillies classics though.. Sabio Cen and La Parisienne both entered in conditions races at St. Cloud, coming up.. |
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Zarakhan wins again at Bordeaux.. now 3 from 4 over 1900m at that track.. he looks a tough ride, has to be pushed along and stoked up.. pulls a bit too and needs blinkers.. but got up close home in a field full of previous winners..
The 4th Anobe, was previously 2nd to the useful Inuit [2 wins from 3], a grey Caravaggio colt now transferred to Joseph O'Brien.. so the form is not too bad I think.. I'd like to see Zarakhan stepped up in trip and perhaps a run in Paris.. |
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Zarak The Brave, mentioned in my Mar. 23 post, who was due to be sold until the sale was cancelled, has an entry in the gr. 3 Prix Noailles at Longchamp on April 17th.. I do hope he runs in this..
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Zarak's best colt so far... Sabio Cen wins the Prix Tourbillon at St. Cloud today, 2100m, comfortably, going away at the end, in the usual slowly run race, with a sprint finish... showed a good turn of foot..
Runs next in the Prix de Suresnes, a 2000m listed race at Chantilly on May 3rd.. if he wins that, surely it's the Jockey Club after.. I've been waiting for this colt to run since his impressive maiden win at Fontainebleau last November.. |
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woo hoo !... La Parisienne completes the double for Zarak today winning the Prix Durban at St. Cloud, 2100m in immpressive style, after pulling hard early, she took the lead in the straight and pulled away at the end.. a useful Magnier owned, Frankel filly well beat in 3rd.
She wone her maiden in December easily at Deauville and like Sabio Cen I've been longing to see her out again.. Runs next in the Prix de la Seine at Longchamp 2200m May 15th, although she has an entry in the gr. 1 Prix Saint-Alary... hopefully French Oaks after that.. |
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Unruly Caramelito wins at Salon-de-Provence, rather luckily as the 2nd swerved all over the shop..
Zarak is proving to be dual purpose already, with what looked like an above average, early season 3yo hurdler at Auteuil the other day... Bo Zenith, ran away with the Prix Grandak over 3000m.. but he is out of a Presenting mare, so bred for jumping. He was unraced on the flat.. |
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phew !.. Queen Of Beaufay just held on to win her 7f race at Kost racecourse, northern Bohemia, Czech Republic this afternoon.. sort of equivalent race to the Nell Gwyn stakes here.. as mentioned in first post, she was the top mile filly in that country last year, and ridden again today by top Czech jockey Petr Foret, who I like very much.. He couldn't get a clear run up the rail and had to switch, she was also giving 3 lbs to the others..
Zagrey won a conditions race at Nantes in France by 4 lengths. Always up there, won going away. I hope he goes on to better things, the going was very soft.. Zarak didn't quite get the treble today as 3yo juvenile hurdler Carlton du Berlais finished a close 4th in a 3000m race at Auteuil, having looking the winner throughout.. Tomorrow, Shajak, so far unraced for Johnny Murtagh, runs in a 3yo fillies maiden at The Curragh. O'Brien hotpot in the race as usual, so best watched.. |
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..that should be Most Racecourse, not Kost..
Shajak ran quite well in the Curragh maiden, but why the jockey gave it a hard race just to get 5th, I'm not sure. I imagine Murtagh would have handicaps in mind for it later. A nice run from Baiykara in the Prix de Chaillot maiden at Longchamp yesterday, running on well to take 3rd, when realising what it was all about. I shall be following this one for sure. Lady amateur Lea Bails gave it a good ride I thought.. Heather Main introduces a Zarak gelding tomorrow at Wolverhampton evening meeting in the 1845... Mostly Sunny. Over 12f. Also we have 2 maidens Sinbad le Marin and Vintage Queen, both over 1800m, at Fontainebleau tomorrow. I like Sinbad, he should win a race. |
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Rather quiet on the Zarak front lately, a couple of minor winners, but the news I am delighted to relate is regarding a 3yo filly called Purplepay, who I mentioned in my first post, as she was my favourite 2yo of last year and should have won the Crit. Intl. Her final 200m time was almost 1 sec faster than the winner Angel Bleu, but she couldn't get a clear run, thanks to a poor ride.
She was sold for 2 million Euros at Arqana, to Lael Stables, owned by a wealthy American couple. I understood she went to the States with their resident trainer there, but she has now returned and is in training with no less than Willie Haggas at Newmarket. He seems to have only recently got her, but he's made entries in the Irish 1000 Guineas, the Coronation Stakes and the Gr. 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh.. I'm disappointed though that Sabio Cen, Zarak's best 3yo colt so far, is to miss his intended engagement in the Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly on May 3rd. I've no idea where he's going next, maybe the Prix Hocquart, but I was hoping for the French Derby.. it could be they have the Grand Prix de Paris in mind.. Zarakhan, who is 3 from 4 at Bordeaux, has several entries in group races in Paris, as I hoped, even though I think he will struggle at that level.. |
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Lavello, who I mentioned in my first post, won the gr. 3 Bavarian Classic at Munich today, over 2000m... Ran on strongly final furlong and a half. I do hope he's a 12f horse, out of a Montjeu mare it seems that way, so I expect the Germany Derby will be a target after this. He was the 2nd string today as well, trained my Marcus Klug.
Lavello... Zarak x Laura [Montjeu]... |
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Re. Lavello in the Bavarian Classic, they have the winning distance down as 0.75 [3/4 length]. To my eyes it is clearly 2 lengths. I have asked Deutsche Gallop to look into this.
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Zarak gets his first Classic winner today... of sorts, as it's not under the International Classification as such..
Queen Of Beaufay wins the Czech Republic 1000 Guineas at Most Racecourse, under jockey Petr Foret, impressively by 5 lengths... always going easily she led into the straight and quickened clear in impressive style, drawing right away before being eased in the last half furlong or so.. she started favourite and was entitled to beat this field as she'd beaten most of them before, having won the equivalent races to our Fillies Mile as a 2yo [1600m], and the Nell Gwyn Stakes [1400m] last time out.. To compare with French form, there was one filly in the race [Lady Sophie] who last time out ran in a French maiden at St. Cloud under Christophe Soumillon... in that race Lady Sophie was well beaten, the winner, Piz Gloria, being listed class, and Queen of Beaufay beat Lady Sophie today by at least as much if not a wider margin than Piz Gloria at St. Cloud. So strictly on a literal reading of that form, we can put Queen of Beaufay as probably listed, maybe gr.3 level in France at best.. Queen Of Beaufay - ZARAK / PIKARDIE [Fr.] [SHOLOKOV [Ire.] |
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''I like Sinbad, he should win a race'' .. well I got that one right..
TheO!... TheO! whoo hoo ! I also like Theo Bachelot, who won on Sinbad le Marin [Sinbad The Sailor] at Chantilly today, a 2000m maiden, rather modest but it's a win.. Theo rode a good race I think..sometimes he disappoints me.. realised the pace was too slow, shot from rear to take the lead at half way and made the rest.. kept up to his work in good style.. so many Zarak's seem to appreciate being up with the pace. Apart from Sabio Cen and La Parisienne so far, they're often caught out in a sprint finish.. |
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..unlike Soumillon on Baiykara.. way too far back, too long to get going... please guys, up with the pace in future...
A winner in the making for sure, but it could have been today.. |
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Bo Zenith, a Zarak 3yo hurdler who I mentioned on April 8th, having won his first race impressively at Auteuil, has been bought to race in UK. I'm not surprised by this, although I hoped he would stay in France.
I don't know who has him.. maybe Nicholls?.. People are snapping up these Zarak's... Germany filly Parnac, unbeaten in 2 last year, was sold to race in the U.S. and is now with Christophe Clement at Saratoga... |
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I can't believe they got beat today at Longchamp.. I was disappointed with La Parisienne, even with Dettori aboard, she didn't live up to expectations, finishing 2nd in the listed Prix de la Seine. Difficult to see her winning at the top level. She has an 'Arc entry too..
Times Square put in a terrific run under a hard drive from Maxim Guyon, just failing in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.. I think she just hit the front momentarily inside final 200m.. I still think Zarak's best chance of an official gr. 1 winner from his first crop lies with Purplepay, in training with Haggas, but of course she should already have done that. Still entered in the Irish 1000 Guineas, it may come too soon. |
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The intention is to run Purplepay in the Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday.. so I shall look forward to that.. Her 2yo form is better than anything else in the race..
Little Zara's Return runs tonight at Kempton over 6f, Zarak's first 2yo runner this year. It seems a bit unfair to me to run a Zarak filly over such a short trip, she was never in the hunt over 5f first time out.. |
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Oh gosh I love Zara's Return, very keen early, looking around, ran on well final furlong to finish 4th.. will do much better over further... a race to be won for sure, and I'm so happy for connections..
Zara's Return - Zarak x Quandreviendrastu by Dream Ahead out of a Rainbow Quest mare.. Quandreviendrastu won over a mile at Cagnes Sur Mer.. otherwise very modest.. |
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''Zarak The Brave comes up for sale at Arqana on 29th March... it's a dispersal sale as the owner passed away... he's Lot no. 11.. I do hope he doesn't get bought up by a jumps trainer, I'd like to see him remain on the flat, he could make a good distance horse..''
So I wrote on Mar 23rd.. well, that sale took place yesterday at St. Cloud, the dispersal of the late Mme. Bryant's horses and as I feared, he will go jumping.. Zarak The Brave was bought for 200,000 euros, he will go into training with Willie Mullins.. Best of luck to Purplepay in the Irish 1000 Guineas tomorrow at The Curragh.. she has the form in the book if she's trained on well enough. She also has an entry in the Prix de Sandringham [gr. 2] at Chantilly in early June.. |
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Purplepay not quite ready, she needed the run today but that was a good effort nonetheless, first time out.. Perhaps a rushed preparation but we will see a different Purplepay next time, although I think perhaps she is better suited to sharper tracks in France..
Carlton du Berlais ran another good race in a grade 3 hurdle at Auteuil but receiving 8lbs from the winner, I thought he should have won that. I still love PURPLEPAY .. |
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Lavello, trained by M Klug in Germany and winner of a gr. 3 there a few weeks ago, is declared for the gr. 2 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp, Thursday. Only 5 runners. His prep for the German Derby I imagine, for which he is one of the favourites, but they usually go for a German trial. He has a chance in this. Should stay the trip well.. 2200m..
Lavello... Zarak x Laura [Montjeu]... |
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Well, Lavello managed 3rd in the Prix Hocquart today at Longchamp, every chance, not quite good enough.. I still like him for the German Derby though.. I think there's a gr. 1 in this horse before the end of the year, in Germany..
Zara's Return got her 3rd run in today in what may have been a hot maiden at Yarmouth over 7f. So now she's qualified for nurseries, so I don't expect to see her out again for a while. She ran a nice race considering the big stable opposition. I feel sure she will win a race before the end of the year, over a mile perhaps.. |
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I'm hoping for a double today... Grand Balcon and Happy Harry at Salon de Provence, both maidens, both overdue a win..
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Grand Balcon finally won his maiden, but Happy Harry runner up again, I'm not sure he wants to win but I'm quite fond of Happy Harry, he just needs to get his head in front and keep it there..
A nice win today for Zagrey.. by Zarak out of a Slickly mare, winning a listed race at Bordeaux in good style, beating a small but useful field.. First attempt beyond a mile, and looks able to stay further than the 1900m today.. 2 out of 3 for Zagrey this season so far..a possible step up to gr. 3 now I would think.. an improving colt and one to watch.. |
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Shajak got off the mark today in a modest maiden at Tipperary for J Murtagh, I knew he would get a win out of it, hopefully go on to better things as he wasn't stopping at the end, so he stays well, even if wandering a bit final furlong..
As for Flaming Lord at Yarmouth, a race he should have won, started favourite, but jockey outridden by Hollie Doyle. Always on the cards, you could see it before they started.. I keep saying, Zarak's do not have a sprint finish, yet they are so often ridden that way, they are not Nijinsky's.. Lead, or up with the pace, and don't let the leader get away.. Zarak's full sister Zarka makes her 3yo debut in a race at St. Cloud this week. Very disappointed, but not surprised that Sabio Cen has not made the Prix du Jockey Club. I think he must be injured.. |
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Purplepay has been left in the gr. 2 Prix de Sandringham - 1600m - at Chantilly on Sunday.. I'll be very surprised if she doesn't win that..
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woo hoo ! great ride from Joshua Bryan on Mostly Sunny, just held on at Leicester today over 12f. Not an easy thing to do there to make all..
As I've always said, most Zarak's so far seem best ridden from the front.. Mostly Sunny - ZARAK / Belle Above All - New Approach.. |
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Purplepay definitely runs on Sunday at Chantilly..
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Vintage Queen runs tomorrow, Friday, in the 2nd division of the 3yo h'cap at Compiegne, around 3.30pm.. she has had 3 quiet runs so far, ridden by two lesser known jockeys, last time running on well at the end. I've been watching her. Now she's handicapped at a good mark and look who gets the ride.. Maxim Guyon. That's all I need to know.
I'm expecting a big run from Vintage Queen tomorrow.. |
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Vintage Queen did the job quite well and with that topical name, he just had to.. Thank you Maxime Guyon, you owed me one. Zarak's often pull and have to be continually stoked up, as she did here, but the weight advantage told..
I think she might need further and hope she goes on to something better later in the season, but I'm not expecting too much from this filly. Vintage Queen - Zarak out of Vintage Red by Turtle Bowl.. Coincidentally, Maxime Guyon rode the dam in its first race, 9 years ago.. |
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Nice gr. 3 win for Baiykara in the Prix de Royaumont today.. Soumillon got it right that time, up with the pace, led entering straight, ran on strgly, running green late on..
There's a gr. 1 in this filly but not a mile and a half I think. The Prix de Royallieu over 1m. 6f in the autumn I see as her race.. before then maybe the Prix de Malleret gr. 2 at Saint-Cloud and Prix de Pomone at Deauville, something like that.. she's a stayer.. |
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Well I'm very surprised Soumillon declares Baiykara as a Vermeille / Arc filly, I know she's entered, and likely better in the autumn, but that seems like a bit too ambitious at that trip. However, he should know so I have that to look forward to, whatever..
If only Zarak got the kind of mares Frankel gets.. |
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I am so relieved, incredibly. Purplepay wins the Gr. 2 Prix de Sandringham in good style. I'll be honest, I expected her to win that by 6 lengths, not 2.5.. but I think she's just coming to herself and will be better later on.
She is my filly, I feel as though I own her. Perhaps the Prix du Moulin will be her race but I admit to being a little disappointed she didn't put as much daylight from the others as I expected... the 2nd and 3rd are good fillies but no great shakes really.. Beautiful ride from Tom Marquand, broke well, up with the pace in 2nd, going well entering straight, soon led and quickened clear, ran on well.. by ZARAK - Piedra by Lawman .. 2 wins for Zarak today at Chantilly. Pity Sabio Cen didn't make it for the Jockey Club.. and I'm even more surprised Soumillon rates Baiykara as the better prospect over 12f than Vedeni.. |
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Purplepay is also entered in the gr. 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh June 26.. 10f.. she wasn't stopping at the end today, so that may suit.. and the timing is right. I'll be surprised if she goes for the Coronation Stakes at Ascot, which she is still in, it surely comes too quick..
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Zarak's last 5 runners have all won but it's going to be a struggle today, with 2 runners neither of which can be fancied with confidence.
Black Gaia at La Teste has a chance now the h'cap mark has come down again and the trip is right for this staying filly.. another who has to be kept up to work, wears blinkers.. I'm expecting a place at least.. Golden Maverick, a rare early 2yo for Zarak, runs in a novice at Salisbury for Ian Williams. He does have a gr. 1 jockey aboard but can only watch today I think, over 6f.. hardly Zarak territory.. |
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I was quite pleased with the run of Golden Maverick today, a nice quiet run, I don't think much was expected... more later for that one I think..
Black Gaia plodded on as usual at La Teste, not far off, but she's rather one paced to say the least.. needs to drop a bit more in the h'cap.. |
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A couple of nice winners lately for Zarak..
Haya Zark who has always been underrated, took the Prix Ridgeway, listed, at Longchamp under Soumillon.. he's the only jockey to have won on it, so it was always a good sign.. he wasn't a lucky winner, the form was there.. Today, filly In Time won her maiden at Compiegne, against some decent opposition, in fact a line through the runner up puts her up there amongst the better fillies.. she stepped up from 8 to 10f, and I think she needs 12f.. best work at the finish.. Zara's Return came out quickly again at Leicester to put a good show in 2nd... I think she ought to have a break, 4 runs in quick succession.. I'm looking forward to Times Square and La Parisienne in the Prix de Diane next Sunday.. a good draw is required and 2100m might be the limit for Times Square.. |
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Adelaide - SHHHHHHHHHHHH
Keep away from the Horse Racing forum or you will be turning off the golden tap ! FYI Bo Zenith seems to have materialised at Gary Moores (glad he won't be ruined at Paul Nicholls) and they like a tilt at the Triumph in March. Available at 40/1 with SkyBet and I was going to have an interest when Zarak the Brave (25/1 SkyBet) was routed to Mullins. Only negative on that is Highflyer acquired it and not Mullins direct. |