Tuesday 15 September 2020
The Prix Vermeille is a race which has seen great success for His Highness the Aga Khan, with six winners carrying the famous green and red silks before Sunday’s edition, in addition to Mandesha for Princess Zahra Aga Khan in 2006. The 2020 edition of ParisLongchamp’s premier mile and a half race for fillies saw an eighth success for the Aga Khan Studs, as TARNAWA followed in the footsteps of champions such as Zarkava (2008), Shareta (2012) and Shawanda (2005). His Highness the Aga Khan now joins Marcel Boussac as joint record-holder in the prestigious event, with seven titles to his name.
The consistent and high-class filly was ridden patiently by Christophe Soumillon during the race, and she produced a devastating turn of foot in the straight, storming home on the outside of her rivals to score by three lengths from the fast finishing Raabihah (Sea The Stars). This was a fifth Group victory for the four-year-old filly, and her first at the highest level.
By Shamardal, TARNAWA is a daughter of Listed winner TARANA (Cape Cross) who is herself out of Listed winner Tarakala (Dr Fong).
A delighted Mark Weld was present at ParisLongchamp to represent his father, trainer Dermot Weld, and he commented, “It's thanks so much to His Highness the Aga Khan, his family and his team. This is a very prestigious race. We were hopeful. She's very consistent and is from a great Aga Khan family, which just gets better and better. She's a joy to train."
TARNAWA holds entries in the Prix de l’Opéra and the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and connections will also now consider supplementing her in the Arc following this win in one of the premier trials.
The filly’s Stakes successes have come over ten furlongs and a mile and a half and Weld added, “Ten furlongs is possibly her best trip, but we will see. She has speed, she’s just a good filly and good fillies tend to go the extra yard.”
Updated on 15/09/20
