3 minute read

It was a dramatic end to the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches as the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Zarigana (Siyouni) was awarded the victory in the steward’s room,

Having finished a nose behind British raider Shes Perfect, the result was almost a replica of what had occurred four weeks earlier. The pair finished a neck apart in the traditional trial race for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, the course and distance Group 3 Prix de la Grotte. It had been Zarigana who had been triumphant on that occasion, making up late ground to take the narrowest of victories from the Charlie Fellowes-trained filly.

Proceedings unfolded in a similar fashion with Shes Perfect always keen in the early stages of the race and jockey Kieran Shoemark pushing hard to hold onto his advantage in the closing 200m. Shes Perfect leaned left into the progressing Exactly, ridden by Ryan Moore, who moved across the track and restricting the late rally of Zarigana, under Mickael Barzalona. As they passed the line, Shes Perfect was a nose ahead of Zarigana, with Mandanaba just stealing third from Exactly.

Despite celebrations from the Fellowes camp, jockey Mickael Barzalona lodged an appeal to the steward's in the immediate aftermath, and the places were reversed fifteen minutes later.

In an interview with Sky Sports Racing, Graffard said: "Obviously it was a tough few minutes and we don't like to win like this and I feel sorry for the connections of Shes Perfect because they had the joy, but this is sport and this is racing and it has happened to me in the past.

"To be fair, my filly, when she came (with her challenge) she got really unbalanced at the wrong time and in the end it was only a nose.

"It was a decision in the stewards' room, but I'm very happy for this filly especially. There was a lot of expectation and she deserves a win like that. It would have been very frustrating to be second and beaten a nose and for the team at home it's really good.

"It's quite hard to really enjoy it, it's more like relief than proper joy.

"We'll have to discuss it, I'm not sure she needs to be stepped up in trip, so if we decide to stick to a mile we'll go to Ascot for the Coronation Stakes with her."

Zarigana's success marks a first Group 1 for the famous green-and-red silks of the Aga Khan since his recent passing and is a triumph for the breeding operation. By Siyouni, the filly is a grand-daughter of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava and is the first Black Type performer out of dam Zarkamiya.