The wonder filly Zarkava hopes to eclipse her male counterparts in the 1m4f championship of Europe in today's Qatar-sponsored Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Zarkava's obvious talents have yet to win over several sections of the public. All week casual statisticians have been keen to promote the glaring fact that male dominance of France's most cherished Group 1 stretches back 15 years to when the four-year-old Urban Sea last struck for the women.
That no three-year-old filly has managed to win the Arc since the Aga Khan-owned Akiyda succeeded in 1982 further drives home the fact that the trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre must have his charge at her peak this afternoon. It will be the first time the filly has met with colts at the track, but Akiyda's performance provides the template for Royer-Dupre and Zarkava, also owned by the Aga Khan. Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien managed yet another victory as Halfway To Heaven held off Darjina to win the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket yesterday. Darjina was finishing second in her sixth consecutive Group One of the season and lost out by half a length. Sir Michael Stoute's Visit came in third.
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