Thursday 11 October 2012
RIDASIYNA and DALKALA were stars of the show on Arc weekend for the Aga Khan Studs, picking up the Gr.1 Prix de l’Opéra and Gr.2 Prix Royallieu respectively.
DALKALA set the ball rolling on the Saturday card, making all the running to secure her first Group 2 success from English and Irish Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star. The daughter of Giant’s Causeway adapted well to the rain-sodden track, but is also effective on a sound surface as she lifted the Gr 3 Prix Cléopâtre earlier in the season on good ground. On her previous outing, Alain de Royer Dupré’s talented three-year-old had beaten future Arc winner Solemia by half a length when finishing third in the Gr 2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville. Having now proved her stamina, DALKALA could face the colts in the Gr 1 Prix Royal-Oak later this month.
DALKALA hails from a top Aga Khan Studs family, being out of Group 3 winner Daltaya (Anabaa) whose dam Daltaiyma (Doyoun) is a full sister to multiple Group 1 scorer Daylami and half sister to Arc hero Dalakhani (Darshaan). DALKALA has a two-year-old half brother named Dalilar (Dynaformer) in training with Alain de Royer Dupré.
RIDASIYNA’s victory in the Prix de l’Opéra provided a third win in seven years in this prestigious Group 1 contest for the Aga Khan Studs, previously successful with Mandesha (Desert Style) and SHALANAYA (Lomitas).
This daughter of Motivator was held up in the early stages of the race before making progress in the false straight and then producing a storming run in the final two furlongs. Mikel Delzangles’ charge passed the post over three lengths clear of her rivals, headed by Group 1 winners Izzi Top and Giofra. RIDASIYNA has now won four of her five outings, including also the Gr 3 Prix Chloé. The lightly raced filly could possibly take in an international Group 1 at SAnta Anita or Kyoto.
RIDASIYNA is a half-sister to the very promising hurdler Ranjaan (Dubai Destination). She is out of winning Darshaan mare Ridafa and a granddaughter of Group-placed Ridaiyma (Kahyasi).
Updated on 10/10/2012.
