Friday 21 June 2024
ZARAK was represented this week by two runners at Royal Ascot, and the French-trained duo both made the frame, with ZARAKem an impressive runner-up to Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Metropolitan a fast-finishing third to Rosallion in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Jérôme Reynier, trainer of ZARAKem, said: “It was a real test at Royal Ascot, against a high-class horse like Auguste Rodin and on firm ground. He did not weaken, quite the opposite, and he showed that he will stay 12 furlongs. We can legitimately dream of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe now. After this race, we can aim for a race like the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes or the Juddmonte International. We are in no hurry, and for now we are going to enjoy this second place.”
Mario Baratti, trainer of Metropolitan, commented: “I thought he was a bit unlucky but that's racing. They were never travelling that strongly and I was happy with the ride Alexis [Pouchin] gave him. He only started galloping in the last 200 metres when the gap appeared. Obviously it was too late and the other two horses had gone. However, we’ve seen he has the ability to run with the best. He has pace. It's just he’s very cold in behind, so we’ll probably keep him to a mile. With more pace in the race and a cleaner run, you never know, he might have been closer. It wasn’t an easy race but I’m very happy with his performance."
