Friday 4 June 2010
SARAFINA’s success in Sunday’s Prix de Diane epitomises the excellence of HH the Aga Khan’s breeding and racing operation as she is the sixth winner of the Chantilly classic for the Aga Khan and trainer Alain de Royer Dupré. The exploit is all the more remarkable as SARAFINA was followed past the post by her stablemate ROSANARA.
After a smooth start, the unbeaten SARAFINA raced in midfield in a contest animated at a regular rhythm by pacemaker Valasyra. SARAFINA accelerated progressively in the straight and then placed a second, decisive acceleration around a furlong and a half from home to take the lead and score by a length and a half. SINNDAR’s daughter ROSANARA raced behind SARAFINA for much of the ten and a half-furlong event. She was forced to switch her line two furlongs out and then stayed on well to secure second place.
SARAFINA and ROSANARA were the only two Group 1 winners to line up in the Prix de Diane, after picking up the Prix Saint-Alary and Prix Marcel Boussac respectively. They both therefore confirmed their class.
HH the Aga Khan commented after the race, “They are two very good fillies and SARAFINA is unbeaten, which is fantastic. These fillies represent the future of my breeding operation.”
Alain de Royer Dupré added, “SARAFINA has a magnificent capacity to accelerate in just a few strides. This is an ability which is possessed only by great horses.”
SARAFINA, whose three career wins have come in less than six weeks, is now likely to aim for the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in September, while ROSANARA could travel to Ireland for the Irish Oaks on 18th July.
Updated on 14/06/2010.
