11 May. FR. Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. G1. Longchamp. 1.600 mts. Turf. 400.000 €
1.- ZARKAVA (C.Soumillon)
2.- GOLDIKOVA (O.Peslier)
3.- HALFWAY TO HEAVEN (D.McCabe)


Zarkava unleashed her potent finishing kick under Christophe Soumillon to maintain superstar status with a Classic success in the French 1000 at Longchamp.

The Aga Khan’s daughter of Zamindar has mopped on all four of her starts to date, and on each occasion displayed an electric turn of foot.

Victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day marked her out as something special and she warmed up for the French 1000 Guineas without breaking sweat over the course and distance last month.

With her unbeaten record in tact, she was sent off the 4-9 favourite and was settled in rear by Soumillon after her trademark slow start.

Halfway To Heaven, representing Ballydoyle, did her part in setting a ferocious pace which helped Zarkava set a new race record.

Once pulled out into clear air, Alain de Royer-Dupre’s charge skipped clear within a matter of strides and opened up a two-length margin at the line.

Kayaba ran well in behind to finish second, with Aidan O’Brien’s Halfway To Heaven taking third.

Soumillon said: “She always jumps out of the gate like that and if you look at all of the races, she has ran in before she has been slowly away from the gate.

“After that she followed the pace, and this was the best day for her turn of foot.

“I didn’t have to push her along too much as the pace was good and she was the best today.

“We will have to see what happens next. I am a jockey and not a trainer!”

Despite holding an entry at Epsom in next month’s Juddmonte Oaks, Zarkava is likely to stay in France for the short term and head to Chantilly on June 8 for the Prix de Diane.

His Highness the Aga Khan said: “To go to the Diane would be the obvious thing to do.

“I honestly don’t know if she is entered at Epsom but that was never the plan.

“I get the feeling from her races that she will stay further, and it is great to have another super filly.”

De Royer-Dupre added: “She was a bit slow to start and they must have gone quickly.”

In addition to the third home, O’Brien was responsible for the sixth-placed Psalm.

He said: “Halfway To Heaven ran well and she is a tough lady. Psalm ran a good race too but she had a bad draw.”