The Aga Khan's Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), the winner of last year's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot in addition to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, will this year target the G1 Queen Anne S. at the Royal meeting June 14 rather than facing her own sex in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. over the same mile distance. Ervedya was second to Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) in the G2 Prix du Muguet on seasonal debut at Saint-Cloud May 1.
“She deserves to run in a Group 1,” said the Aga Khan's French studs manager Georges Rimaud. “The Duke of Cambridge is a Group 2 and she would have extra weight to carry, so what would be the point? We were happy with her at Saint-Cloud and I think she will improve a lot from it.”
An Aga Khan colourbearer who is unlikely to make the trip to Royal Ascot is 'TDN Rising Star' Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will instead target the G1 Prix du Jockey Club June 5. Zarak, a son of champion Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), won his first two starts but lost his unbeaten record when fifth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains May 15.
“Zarak is fine,” said Rimaud. “He ran a good race at Deauville but he possibly did not have enough experience for a race like that. He was also not drawn where the pace was so I do not think that helped, either. The objective now is the Prix du Jockey Club, but things can change. If he runs in the Jockey Club, we can assume that he won't be going [to Royal Ascot].”
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