Zarkava – The Magnificent Filly
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in 1920. Longchamp Racecourse, located in Paris, has been hosting horse racing events since 1857 and is therefore the fitting venue for such a historical and prestigious race. It is one of the most celebrated international racing events and is run over a distance of 2 400 meters. Here, the best three year old colts and fillies battle for supremacy and victory. On Sunday, 14 September 2008, a filly claimed victory in the Qatar Prix Vermeille, catapulting her to race favorite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The Arc, as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is often referred to, will be held at the Longchamp Racecourse on 5 October 2008, and Zarkava will be in the starting gates as the filly everyone will the cheering for. Even though she was not at her peak fitness on Sunday, coming back from a three month resting period from horse racing, the magnificent filly performed beyond anyone’s expectations.
It did not seem as if Zarkava was in contention to win the Qatar Prix Vermeille, as she was a little unnerved in the starting gates and jockey, Christophe Soumillion took a while to settle her into the race. With only two furlongs left in the race, and with Zarkava in last position, punters lost all hope that the filly could overcome the odds. But Soumillion saw his opportunity and moved Zarkava to the outside, from where she burst into action, only needing three hundred yards to catch and pass the race leader, winning the event in a race record time.
If Zarkava manages to win The Arc, she will be the first filly in fifteen years to pull off this feat, with Urban Sea being the last filly to win this phenomenal racing event in 1993. Looking at her performance, compared to her rivals in their events on the weekend, Zarkava is going to be a very difficult contender to beat. Her speed and unrivaled strength, without even being encouraged by Soumillion’s whip, shows that she has what it takes to give the colts a run for their money, and it is hoped that she will remain on her unbeaten racing career path at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
