Tuesday 4 October 2011
SHANKARDEH’s Gr 2 Prix Chaudenay was the highlight of a prolific weekend for her sire Azamour who also picked up several black-type places across the globe, while Sinndar’s talents were once again underlined by the excellent Arc de Triomphe second of his daughter SHARETA.
Three-year-old SHANKARDEH’s success in the Gr 2 stayers’ event at Longchamp was highly deserved after the filly had been beaten just a quarter of a length in the Gr 2 Prix Malleret during the summer and also filled the runner-up spot in a Gr 3 contest at Glorious Goodwood. On this occasion, Mikel Delzangles’ charge raced in second position for much of the 3000 metres event before running on well in the final stages to score from Miss Lago. SHANKARDEH, who is a half-sister to 2009 Prix de l’Opéra winner Shalanaya (Lomitas), has only raced five times, with three wins and two places to her credit. She will now be aimed at the Gr 1 Prix Royal-Oak.
During the same weekend, Azamour enjoyed Group 3 places from his produce Zanughan and LINDENTHALER, while Pocket A Pound and Destined For Glory were both Listed runner-ups in Italy and Hong Kong respectively. Previously an impressive Listed winner, Zanughan took a close third in the Gr 3 Diamond Stakes at Dundalk on Friday. In Hong Kong, Destined For Glory (formerly named Wade Giles) who was second in the same Dundalk contest in 2010, finished second to Sha Tin champion Ambitious Dragon in the Listed National Day Cup. Finally, in Germany LINDENTHALER was third in the Gr 3 Preis der Deutschen Einheit at Hoppegarten for Arc-winning trainer Peter Schiergen.
Sarafina may have attracted more attention than her stablemate SHARETA in the run-up to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but it was the latter who ran a spectacular race to finish second in Longchamp’s flagship contest. The three-year-old daughter of 2000 Arc hero Sinndar raced up with the pace throughout the mile and a half event and stayed on resolutely to maintain second. Following her good results this year, SHARETA will stay in training as a four year-old. Sarafina (Refuse To Bend) had to settle for seventh place after making her effort on the outside of the pack.
Updated on 04/10/2011.
