ZARAK has done it, and with a colt from his first crop.

After a couple of near-misses, when runner-up in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and third in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Zagrey won the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden, and thus credited Zarak with his first winner at this level. It happened too on a weekend when another member of that same crop, Parnac, won the Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga.

In the case of Parnac, there is no doubt that this is yet another example of how Zarak significantly upgrades many of the mares he covers. The dam of the US graded stakes winner is Passing Burg, a daughter of Sageburg (Johannesburg) who stood for a short time at Garryrichard Stud.

While she was twice successful at two and placed in a Group 2 that same year, Passing Burg is from a female line that has enjoyed more success with winners over jumps than on the level. Admittedly, Passing Burg’s third dam Louve Romaine (Alydar) was placed in both the Group 1 Prix de Diane-French Oaks and Prix Saint-Alary, but her granddaughter La Chanteuse (Scorpion) was third in the Listed Opera Hat Chase at Naas, and her great-granddaughter Buiseness Sivola (Archange D’Or) won a blacktype hurdle race at Fairyhouse and was second in the Grade 1 Champion 4YO Hurdle at Punchestown.

Passing Burg had one winner prior to Parnac, who was a listed winner at two in Germany before heading to the USA. That was Pessac (Elusive City), and his sole success was over jumps in France, while in Italy he has twice been runner-up in Grade 2 chases at Merano. They are two of the three runners to date from their dam, and last year she foaled a full-brother to Parnac.

Current star

Back now to the current star for Zarak, Zagrey. He is the best of the 14 stakes winners to date for the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner, and on his only visit to the sales Zagrey was led out unsold at €32,000. Now his winnings stand at just over €1 million.He joins the Group 1-placed Graignes (Zoffany) and the stakes-placed Anatiya (Dariyan) as winners out of the unraced Slickly (Linamix) mare Grey Anatomy.

In the same year that she foaled Zagrey, Grey Anatomy was sold for €180,000, but in February 2022 she was offered for sale again, snapped up on this occasion by Nicola FitzGerald for €43,000. This was great value, even though she hadn’t been covered the previous year, as there was much happening in the family. Now in foal to New Bay (Dubawi), it is no surprise to find that Grey Anatomy is already slated for a return visit to Zarak in the spring of 2024.

Grey Anatomy is a half-sister to a listed winner by Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), Nova Step, and they are out of the stakes winner Light Step, a daughter of Nureyev (Northern Dancer). Light Step’s three stakes-winning siblings included Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Eltish (Cox’s Ridge).

No surprise

Given his exceptional pedigree, it is no surprise that Zarak should emerge as a high-class racehorse, and now sire. Retired to His Highness the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval in 2018 for €12,000, his fee remained at that until last year when it more than doubled to €25,000. On the back of the success enjoyed by his first two crops, he jumped to €60,000 this year.

Zarak’s dam Zarkava (Zamindar) was brilliant, the Aga Khan homebred remaining undefeated during a Group 1 spree that culminated in a two-length defeat of Youmzain in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. That was her fourth top-level win in a row and her fifth overall.

She landed the Prix Marcel Boussac at two and beat Goldikova in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas the following spring. Zarkava followed a three-length defeat of Gagnoa in the Prix de Diane-French Oaks with a two-length win over Dar Re Mi in the Prix Vermeille.

Zarak had the misfortune to be a three-year-old the same year as Almanzor; that standout colt beat him in both the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby and Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano. However, the Aga Khan’s colt got his Group 1 win the following summer, beating Silverwave by three-quarters of a length in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over 12 furlongs. Zarak came close two months before that when he was a short-neck second to Cloth Of Stars in the Group 1 Prix Ganay over a furlong and a half less.

Outstanding

A son of the outstanding Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), Zarak joins a growing group of sons of that Darley great who have sired at least one Group 1 winner.

Among Europe’s leading freshmen in 2021, Zarak supplied a double-digit tally of winners including four blacktype earners. That was an eye-catching start for a horse who himself won a mile maiden at two late in the season.

His daughter Purplepay showed plenty of ability at two when finishing third to Angel Bleu in the Group 1 Criterium International over a mile at Saint-Cloud, and was sold for €2 million shortly afterwards, She went on to win the Group 2 Prix Sandringham. Straight is another who won a Group 2, his success coming in Germany.

Zarak has seven Group 3 winners in France, Germany and Italy, and his four listed winners include Village Voice in Ireland. He has also been knocking at the Group 1 door with a few others.

Times Square chased home Zellie in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at two and was placed the following year in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas. Another daughter, La Parisienne, was second in the Group 1 Prix de Diane-French Oaks, while Crown Princess was placed in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary.

In summary, there is so much to like about Zarak. His lifetime record of 70% winners to runners and 11% stakes winners to runners, his five Group 1 performers from his first two crops, and he being a winner at two, three and four over a mile, 10 furlongs and a mile and a half are all exemplary. Zarak won or placed in 10 of his 13 starts, and is a son of two champions. His dam traces back to the legendary Petite Etoile (Petition) and Mumtaz Mahal (The Tetrarch).