DARJINA BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Taken from the EBN
Princess Zahra Khan’s homebred filly Darjina lost her unbeaten
record in the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes in testing conditions at Royal
Ascot, but bounced back in style to win yesterday’s Gr.1 Prix
d’Astarte at Deauville.
The daughter of Juddmonte Farm sire ZAMINDAR,
who had taken the scalp of Finsceal Beo in the Gr.1 Poule d’Essai
des Pouliches, held the sustained challenge of Missvinski
(Stravinsky), with the recent Gr.1 Falmouth Stakes winner Simply
Perfect (Danehill) back in third. After the race, Darjina’s trainer
Alain du Royer Dupre said that his charge may be stepped up in trip
next time, with the Gr.1 Prix de l’Opera as a possible end of
season target – providing the ground is suitable.
His Highness the Aga Khan also had a stylish winner yesterday
when Sageburg retained his unbeaten record in the Listed Prix
Ridgway. He acquired the wellbred son of Johannesburg from his
purchase of the Lagardere breeding operation. The Gr.3 Prix de
Cabourg on the same card went to the rapidly-improving Alexandros,
who was homebred by Sheikh Mohammed. The son of Kingmambo, out of a
daughter of High Hawk, broke his maiden second time out and
followed up in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure a couple of weeks
ago.
The conqueror of Finsceal Beo in the Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des
Pouliches, Darjina raced prominently throughout, seized the
initiative at the 400 metre pole and rallied gamely to repel the
sustained challenges of Missvinski and Simply Perfect. The bay is a
daughter of Banstead Manor Stud’s leading juvenile ZAMINDAR,
whose 263 foals aged three and over also feature the Gr.1 Poule
d’Essai des Pouliches heroine Zenda, May’s Gr.1 Prix Saint-Alary
ace Coquerelle and the prolific Scandinavian Pattern victor
Jubilation. A full-brother to the dual European Champion Zafonic,
ZAMINDAR has three yearlings catalogued in Arqana’s
Deauville August Sale and one at Baden-Baden.
BRAVE WIN PUTS DARJINA BACK IN GROUP 1 GROOVE
Taken from the Racing Post - By Desmond Stoneham
Darjina redeemed her reputation at Deauville yesterday when she
stayed on to win the Group 1 Prix d’Astarte in the hands of Thierry
Thulliez, beating Missvinski by half a length.
Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, Darjina was landing back-to-back
wins in the s’Astarte for both her handler and owner Princess Zahra
Aga Khan, whose Mandesha picked up the race a year ago.
Thulliez was always well placed on Darjina during the early part of
the mile contest, led by All Is Vanity just ahead of Simply
Perfect. The leader began to fade two out, where eventual third
Simply Perfect took over, but she was soon challenged by Darjina,
who looked to have the race wrapped up early in the final
furlong.
Then Missvinski threw down a strong challenge but couldn’t quite
see it through, with Darjina knuckling down to keep her head in
front.
Darjina has now won four of her five races, having won the Prix
de la Grotte from Missvinski before her Classic victory in the
Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. She reversed Coronation Stakes form
with the German filly Mi Emma, a well beaten seventh yesterday.
But for suspension, Christophe Soumillon would not only have
been on Dylan Thomas in the King George but also on Darjuna, so his
nine-day whip ban cost him very dear. However, he did play a role
in the victory of Darjina as he told Thulliez everything he knew
about the filly.
Royer-Dupre said, ‘Christophe divulged everything to Thulliez
before the race and I thank him for being such a sportsman. This
filly always finds something at the end of her races and she has
plenty of stamina on her dam’s side. She has been entered in the
Prix Jacques le Marois, but the Prix de l’Opera is also a race we
will be looking at.’
Thulliez said: ‘It would have been more difficult without the
advice of Christophe. Darjina is a very mature filly who never
gives up.’
Jean-Claude Rouget, the trainer of Missvinski, said: ‘That was
super, I am very happy, as she always runs up to form. I thought we
were coming to win but we met a superior horse on the day. There
are no exact plans for the moment, but we will think about the Prix
du Moulin.’
British raiders Simply Perfect and Barshiba took third and
fourth, with the last-named having a genuine excuse for not
finishing closer to the first three.
Simply Perfect’s trainer Jeremy Noseda said: ‘She had every
chance and I am happy enough. She is a very consistent filly who
will race in the States later in the season, but I have no
immediate plans.’
Barshiba was putting in her best work at the finish but never
looked like troubling the first three. ‘She was leaning against the
stalls when they opened and the elastic girth got caught, so her
saddle slipped,’ said jockey Richard Quinn, while trainer David
Elsworth said: ‘We may now try her over ten
furlongs.’
Date:
30 July 2007