Zarak (Fr)

Entered in all the big ones in France, Varandir (Zarak) stayed on track when extending his perfect record to three-from-three for The Aga Khan Studs in Sunday's G3 Prix Hocquart at ParisLongchamp. Held up in rear early by Mickael Barzalona, the even-money favourite who had won here on debut and at Lyon-Parilly last month stayed on down the outer to lead inside the final half furlong and score by 1 1/4 lengths from Jabracadabra (Cracksman), with a head back to Wiki (Make Believe) in third. From the family of the...

Springing a minor surprise in Sunday's G3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, Aziz Kheir's James J Braddock (Zarak) swooped late to deny Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) for Joseph in the all-O'Brien affair. Sent off at 9-1 for the 10-furlong prep, the Ballysax fifth was waited with by Dylan Browne McMonagle and delivered in the nick of time to oust Ballydoyle's long-time ante-post Derby favourite in the shade of the post for a short-head verdict. Pierre Bonnard's pacemaking stablemate Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) stuck to his task to be a...

Daryz confirmed his wellbeing with a dazzling turn-of-foot in last week's G1 Prix Ganay and his year-younger half-brother Daryzan (Zarak) was the focus in Tuesday's Prix Mendez, a one-mile newcomers' event, at Saint-Cloud. The Francis Graffard-trained G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry did not disappoint and delivered a scintillating performance of his own to earn a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, rosette on debut, becoming the second Rising Star for his Haras de Bonneval-based sire. "He's an immature horse, we've done a lot...

City Girl, whose career was interrupted by a nearly two-year absence, earned her second straight win and first graded triumph in the GIII Beaugay Stakes at Aqueduct Sunday. The bay mare, sent off at 7-2, contested the early pace with longshot Mo Fox Givin, but was taken in hand and let that rival go down the backstretch. The field bunched up behind her as Mo Fox Givin completed the half-mile in :48.90. Laurelin was first to overake the pacesetter, but City Girl tipped out three wide for clear sailing between...

The Aga Khan Studs are replete with top-class middle-distance runners at present and Tuesday's Listed Prix de Suresnes could have played host to another as Dolmalan (Zarak) showed an impressive late surge to extend his unbeaten sequence. "He's still a little immature, but it was pleasing that he was able to accelerate like that," trainer Mikel Delzangles said. "If he was a good horse, he was going to be able to make up a few lengths and he did. The Prix du Jockey Club is a strong possibility." Coming off...

Up half a mile from her inauspicious debut, Calasita (Zarak) enjoyed the stamina test at Saint-Cloud to get off the mark for Francis Graffard on Tuesday. A half-sister to The Aga Khan Studs world leader Calandagan (Gleneagles), the Prix de Diane entry who had been seventh over a mile at Deauville in October followed the pace with Mickael Barzalona in no hurry. Surging to the front with minimal urging approaching two out, the 23-10 second favourite gave extra to ward off Spirit Of Zarak (Zarak) late and prevail by half...

Resolute Racing's Village Voice (GB) (Zarak {Fr}) completed her first breeze back on Sunday since winning the Oct. 5 GIII Waya at Belmont at the Big A as she prepares for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old breezed a half-mile in :50.16 seconds in company with Alimara (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) over the Oklahoma training turf at Saratoga. "Just a little maintenance half on the turf," said Brown. "I thought she was moving really well. Her...

ParisLongchamp's Prix de Fontenoy looked a fascinating affair on paper beforehand and didn't disappoint as Zaraki (Zarak) surged to TDN Rising Stardom on Sunday. Sent off the 19-10 favourite for the mile event for unraced colts, the Wertheimer homebred was always happy shadowing the leader Houblon (Wootton Bassett). Committed two out by Maxime Guyon, the Andre Fabre-trained grandson of Plumania was impressive from there and hit the line with ears pricked by two lengths. "We expected a good debut from this horse," the owner-breeders' racing manager Pierre Yves Bureau said...

Nothing like claiming your second lifetime win in a graded stakes at Saratoga, especially so when your last time on the board was a year ago at the venue. A pricey $600,000 OBS March juvenile purchase in 2024, Italian Soiree (Uncle Mo) came with big expectations and her connections refused to throw in the towel despite their filly not hitting the board in the last five starts at the black-type level. Her 2025 attempts included a Feb. 8 seasonal bow in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs where she...

6th-CD, $127k, Aoc, 3yo/up, f, 1 1/8mT, 8:30p.m. ET Sold for a price befitting royalty on the back of a 3-year-old season where she was Group 1-placed in Germany, SPANISH EYES (GER) (Zarak {Fr}) will debut here under the lights at Churchill Downs for her new connections. Purchased at ARQDEC last year for €1.3-million by David Redvers Bloodstock for the partnership of Qatar Racing and Michaela Faust, the filly is out of Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), herself a multiple highweight mare in Germany and Italy as well as being...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-sister to a GI Natalma Stakes winner. 14.15 La Teste-Bassin Arcachon, Mdn, €21,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Godolphin's hitherto unraced HONEYFLOWER (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is a homebred daughter of stakes-winning G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest fourth Tulips (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and thus kin to GI Natalma...

Metropolitan (Fr), who began his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham earlier this year, has his first mares in foal, the stud announced on Tuesday. The G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero has successfully covered Sand Rose (Fr) (Aussie Rules), the dam of the multiple group-placed Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge), as well as Oubliette (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), a sister to two group performers including G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches scorer Tie Black (Ire) (Machiavellian). Another mare in foal to the son of Zarak (Fr) is Nao Victoria (GB) (The Gurkha {Ire}),...