One stallion who has more than impressed with his first crop is the blue blooded Zarak (Dubawi).
A winner of four of 13 starts, including the 2017 Gr1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and runner up in the 2016 Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club, Zarak lacked nothing in terms of pedigree when he retired to Haras De Bonneval in 2018.
Zarak was a top-class racehorse (Pic – Haras De Bonneval)
He is a son of outstanding sire Dubawi, whose sire sons have since gone on to include the likes of Night Of Thunder, New Bay and Time Test. Zarak is out of outstanding racemare Zarkava (Zamindar).
The latter, a direct descendant of legendary racemare and producer Mumtaz Mahal, won all seven of her starts including the 2008 Gr1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where Zarkava defeated a star studded field including Youmzain, Soldier Of Fortune, Vision D’Etat and subsequent South African sire, and Cartier Champion, Duke Of Marmalade.
In total, Zarkava won five Gr1 races, including both the 2008 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane. The champion went on to enjoy success at stud, with Zarak one of three stakes winners produced by Zarkava.
Interestingly enough, Zarkava (rated 133 by Timeform after retiring to stud), is very closely related to former star South African raced champion Igugu (Galileo). Zarkava’s fourth dam Zahra (a daughter of outstanding sire Habitat and star racemare Petite Etoile) also ranks as the fourth dam of Igugu.
The latter, who sadly died young at stud, was South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2011, Her 10 South Africa wins, from 12 local starts, including triumphs in the 2011 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July and 2012 Gr1 J&B Met.
Her son Zarak made an immediate impact when retiring to stud, with the blue blooded Grr1 winner France’s Leading First Season Sire of 2021.
Zarak’s stellar first crop has already produced four group winners as well as Gr1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) runner up La Parisienne. At the time of writing, this crop had been responsible for 10 black type horses, and Zarak looks to be a young sire of considerable promise.
His early group winners include German champion Lizaid, Gr2 Prix de Sandringham heroine Purplepay (also third in the Gr1 Criterium International), and Gr3 winners Lavello and Baiykara.
Perfect specimen – Zarak (Pic – Haras De Bonneval
Zarak’s first crop also yielded talented two-year-old Times Square, who was beaten less than two lengths when runner up in the 2021 Gr1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.
Interestingly Zarak is bred on the same Dubawi/Zamindar cross as Ballylinch Stud’s popular, French classic winning sire New Bay.
The latter is already responsible for a host of high-class performers notably top-class filly Saffron Beach, victorious in the 2021 Gr1 Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes and in the G1 Prix Rothschild and Gr2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes in 2022.
New Bay is also the sire of the Mary Slack owned Claymore, who triumphed in the Gr3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier this year.
Zarak and Igugu also hail from the same female line as promising young sire Cracksman (Frankel) –whose early first two-year-olds this season include Listed Star Stakes winner Dance In The Grass.
