DARJINA VICTORY OVER BOYS
Darjina victory over ‘boys’ is the perfect present
Darjina (ZAMINDAR) put her male rivals in their place as she stayed on too strongly for Ramonti and George Washington to win yesterday’s Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
She had two lengths to spare over Frankie Dettori and Ramonti, with George Washington, whom Kieren Fallon appeared to give a lot to do, a length away in third. The rider later said he would have won but for his draw.
Well away and always up with the pace under Christophe Soumillion, Darjina shadowed Ramonti, who took command early in the straight. She launched her attack a furlong and a half out and never looked in the slightest danger from then on.
Winning trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, who had chosen not to run the winner against fillies in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown a day earlier, said: ‘It was her first time against the colts and this was a very high class performance. She’s now up to the standard of the best fillies I’ve trained, like Mandesha and Shawanda. She needs good ground to show her best and is now really mature and much stronger. We have many options and will be looking at races like the Prix de l’Opera and the Sun Chariot Stakes.’
Soumillion added: ‘Darjina is brilliant and the best filly I’ve ridden over a mile. There would be no problem in her staying 2,000 metres. When she ran at Ascot, she hated the sudden change in the ground, which became testing before the race.’
Darjina’s owner, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, celebrated her birthday on Saturday and could not have had a better present.
She said: ‘You’ve no idea how unbelievable it was to watch her today and I was so worried, as it was her first time against the boys. There’s every good chance she’ll stay in training next year, as she comes from a maternal family that matures. I think Alain de Royer-Dupre has done a wonderful job with her.’
Dettori took Ramonti down to the start early and dismounted until the other eight runners arrived. The five-year-old was given every chance but could not pull out any more when Darjina arrived on the scene.
Date:
10 September 2007