I believe one of the Aga Khan's horses got a positive test at the 2nd BC at Aqueduct that they fought for a long time. I am assuming this is the same AK. May temper his enthusiam for the BC/

This is funny, The Breeders Cup can't even get one of their best horses "Curlin" to commit to their races, how can anyone expect The Europeans to be interested.

Perhaps they could send her over to Australia and run in the Melbourne Cup..Now that would be awesome :)

She's run six times at the same track - and once at some other track in France. It would be nice to see her atleast leave France.

I'm probably the only one - but it's very annoying watching races run over that course at Longchamp. How hard is it to build a circle one mile around and make them take left handed turns?

Mr. & Mrs. Kahn....must have a big Kahn!

they need to bring lady marmalade or somethin

give go between some real challenge man

at least have a real turf horse win it

i still don't think Go Between is really a champion , it would be pretty weak if he won the classic

Interesting take. Europeans have been racing their horses since before the United States was a country but they should change the way they do it and conform to our ways? Since we continously kick their ass when it comes to grass racing, perhaps you are right.

i don't believe there would be a dearth of competition. ouija board certainly found many to try her mettle, and the same can be said here.
she has NOT done enough. seven races should never be considered enough, regardless of what one of those races was, regardless of the manner in which it was one.
and if we were all to tiptoe around with these horses because one of them might take a bad step, then we need to shut down the whole damned operation.

as for the oh so cushy life of reproduction for her as a broodmare, that's no guarantee of a long life.

matter of fact, i wonder how the % of breakdown/euthanizations each year for fillies and mares compares to all those who die each year from foaling complications? i think it would be an eye opener for many.

very true. that's why i said i didn't have an issue with him not heading for the bc. too soon, too far to ship after her race the other day. but certainly she could race next year.

it always just cracks me up tho when people take umbrage at the lack of top older horses due to early retirement--yet many of the same folks are so quick to agree with a horse having a grand total of seven starts as having 'done enough'.

No actually it is "not".

You the judge of what's funny.
That is very funny... strange.

Put it in a translator.

Awww, Im awful sorry.
Try not posting dwebage.

:zz:

I need a Coors Light to put up with this. LOL

ジェイはカブである

She a dominant grass champion and won the Arc which is the single biggest test of a champion. Where not talking about Bellamy Road were talking about a filly who would need to race against older horses.. I want her to run more as a fan but I would understand retiring her for sure.

That's a point- I don't know any women who would say being pregnant every year is a "cushy" gig.

She's the Aga Khan's horse; he can do what he wants, but it seems to me that very rarely does a really terrific filly replicate herself (I feel like Personal Ensign came closest, but still didn't produce anything close to what she was), so why the rush to breed, when likely the offspring won't run as well?

I know, I know... because the foals will sell for oodles of money before anyone finds out they don't run like their mama. I get it; money runs the game, but it doesn't stop a fan from being grumpy about it.

That said, can we please come up with some new descriptions for race callers to use besides "flying filly?" There must be some other alliterative adjectives. Fiery? Ferocious? Fearless? Fleet-footed?

if you looked at the top 3year old fillies of the past few years here in Europe, with the exception of Ouija Board, the rest havent really advertised keeping fillies in training. Peeping Fawn and Alexandrova didnt race at all as they just were not showing the same zest for racing, and the Aga Khan's daughter's fillies Mandesha and Darjini were not able to improve on their 3year old form..

To be honest, Im surprised that they havent already retired her, though it would be fantastic if we got to see her in 09!

flying filly goes along with the alliterative gutsy gelding. yeah, they both get nerve wracking after a bit.

First of all, Personal Ensign raced through her 4YO season, despite screws in her leg and she was one of the finest broodmares of the last 25 years. Second of all, of course none of these GREAT horses reproduce themselves, and I doubt any realistic breeder even considers that. However, some might say that over racing them lessens their chances of reproducing at a high level.

And, finally, Zarkava's foals will never sell for " oodles of money " and dollars play absolutely zero consideration into whatever decision the Aga Kan makes.

Unfunny.
Well.... well... you are unnice.
Take that.

Put it in a translator.

Hoss! You'd better start being nice to him, or, or... Hell I don't know :p

Yes, I'm aware PE raced through her 4-year-old year, and with screws in her leg. I wasn't discussing her age at retirement; I was saying she was the only great filly in recent memory I could think of who had a good career as a broodmare. You have a much greater knowledge of the past few decades of racing than I, I'm sure you're aware of other great fillies who may have actually topped themselves. I just can't think of any. Likewise, my comment about selling foals was referring to the foals of great fillies in general, not Zarkava in particular.

So why retire and rush to breed the fillies, then? If it's not the chance of duplicating or improving, and it's not about money, what is it then? Because baby horsies are cute? I understand that the Aga Kan doesn't need the money, but if it's not to produce a better foal, and not about the money, then why retire? They like racing them up to a point and then they're tired of them so on to the next new shiny? If that's true, that's lame. Or typical of the male mind, I guess, depending on how you look at it. ;)

The over-racing reduces their chances of reproducing at a high level sounds to me like an excuse. I'd like to see studies proving that. I could see where continuing to medicate could affect later fertility, as it does in other large mammals, but in that case it's not due to physical exertion.

Hee hee- I was thinking of Funny Cide's Derby and that call, too, when I typed up that post. You read my mind!

Let's see- gallant, galloping... gonadfree... hmm...the Gs are definitely tougher.

Why? He breeds to breed. I assume he knows more than I do and I am not so presumptuous to assume that I understand his motives or question them. He seems to do pretty well breeding.

But, you probably know best, so I won't question you either.

It's because most of the horses that are retired early really haven't done enough. She has.

Who in the **** is Darjini?

Her sibling...Same Sire

Owner: Princess Zahra Aga Khan
Breeder: H.H. Aga Khan's Studs S.C.
Winnings: 9 Starts: 5 - 1 - 2, US$2,183,716

at 3,
1st Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1), Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1), Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3), Prix d'Astarte (Fr-G1)
at 2,
1st Prix Cordova
at 4,
2nd Dubai Duty Free(UAE,G1,1777mT), Prix D'ispahan

Her name is Darjina and horses are related through their dams.

sorry,
dont know who i was thinking of while trying to write down Darjina - 2nd in all 6 starts this year (all G1s)

Same sire. Did'nt see any relation to the dams.

http://www.pedigreequery.com/darjina

http://www.pedigreequery.com/zarkava

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...Gotcha :)