Darjina
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Darjina (foaled 13 February 2004) was a French
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse. After winning her only race as a juvenile she improved to become one of the best three-year-old fillies in Europe in 2007, winning the
Prix de la Grotte The Prix de la Grotte is a Group 3 flat horse race open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies in France. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Longchamp i ...
,
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) ...
,
Prix d'Astarte The Prix Rothschild is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and i ...
and
Prix du Moulin The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is s ...
. In 2008 she compiled an unusual record: competing exclusively at the highest level she finished second in all of six of her races. She was rated the best horse of her age and sex in Europe in both 2007 and 2008.


Background

Darjina was a bay mare with a large white
star A star is a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by Self-gravitation, self-gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night sk ...
and a white
sock A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the feet and often covering the ankle or some part of the Calf (leg), calf. Some types of shoes or boots are typically worn over socks. In ancient times, socks were made from leather or matted animal hair. ...
on her left foreleg, bred in France by her owner
Zahra Aga Khan Princess Zahra Aga Khan (born 18 September 1970) is the eldest child of Aga Khan IV and Princess Salimah Aga Khan. Education Princess Zahra attended Le Rosey School in Switzerland and received her undergraduate degree cum laude in Developmen ...
. She was trained during her track career by
Alain de Royer-Dupré Alain de Royer-Dupré (born 24 September 1944http://www.breederscup.com/bio.aspx?id=2334 Breeders' Cup trainer profile) is a retired French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Early life He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in ...
and was ridden in most of her races by
Christophe Soumillon Christophe Soumillon (born 4 June 1981) is a Belgian jockey based in France. Career Coming from a racing background, Soumillon is the son of jump jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. He rode in pony races and left Belgium aged fifteen to go to the racin ...
. Her sire Zamindar was a full-brother to
Zafonic Zafonic (1 April 1990 – 7 September 2002) was a European Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky. He was the 1992 European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and won the following year's 2,000 Guineas. Background Zafonic was sired by the Mr. P ...
and recorded his biggest win in the Group Three
Prix de Cabourg The Prix de Cabourg is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year i ...
. He became a very successful sire of fillies, with his offspring including the multiple Group One winners
Zarkava Zarkava (foaled 31 March 2005 in Ireland) is an undefeated French Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Background Bred and raced by HH Aga Khan IV, Zarkava was sired by Group II winner Zamindar who also sired th ...
and
Timepiece A clock or chronometer is a device that measures and displays time. The clock is one of the oldest Invention, human inventions, meeting the need to measure intervals of time shorter than the natural units such as the day, the lunar month, a ...
. Darjina's dam Darinska showed some racing ability, winning one minor race and running third in the
Prix de Royaumont The Prix de Royaumont is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take ...
. She was a great-granddaughter of Darazina, whose other descendants have included
Darsi Darsi is a municipality town in Prakasam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the mandal headquarters of Darsi mandal in Kanigiri revenue division. It is located at the foot of the Nallamala Hills. It is approximately away fr ...
,
Daryakana Daryakana (foaled 14 April 2006) is a retired French Thoroughbred racehorse. She was undefeated as a three-year-old in 2009 when her wins included the Prix de Royallieu and the Hong Kong Vase. She was retired to stud after failing to win in 2010. ...
, Darlan,
Almanzor Abu ʿĀmir Muḥammad ibn ʿAbdullāh ibn Abi ʿĀmir al-Maʿafiri (), nicknamed al-Manṣūr (, "the Victorious"), which is often Latinized as Almanzor in Spanish, Almansor in Catalan language, Catalan and Almançor in Portuguese ( 938 – 8 A ...
and
Daryaba Daryaba (foaled 14 May 1996) was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a brief track career she won three of her five starts between April and October 1999. After finishing second on her debut she won a minor rac ...
(
Prix de Diane The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is one of the most important and prestigious Group 1 horse races in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at C ...
).


Racing career


2006: two-year-old season

Darjina was ridden by Michael Poirier when she made her debut in a minor race over 1600 metres on
Saint-Cloud Racecourse Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France. During World War 1, the race course site housed the No. 4 Canadian Stationary Hospita ...
on 3 November and won "easily" by one and a half lengths.


2007: three-year-old season

On 15 April 2007 Darjina began her second campaign by starting the 1.8/1 favourite for the
Group 3 Group 3 may refer to: * Group 3 element, chemical element classification * Group 3 (motorsport), FIA classification of cars used in auto racing and rallying * Group 3, the third tier of races in worldwide Thoroughbred horse racing * Group 3 image ...
Prix de la Grotte over 1600 metres at
Longchamp Racecourse The Longchamp Racecourse (, ) is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes at the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is used for flat racing and is noted for ...
. After racing in second place for most of the way she took the lead 100 metres from the finish and won by a short neck and a length from Missvinski and Chinandega. Four weeks later she was stepped up in class for the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over the same course and distance and started the 6.5/1 second favourite behind the Irish filly
Finsceal Beo Finsceal Beo (Gaelic for "living legend") (foaled 19 February 2004 in Ireland) is a European champion thoroughbred racehorse. She is one of only two horses ever to win both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the English 1,000 Guineas. She missed her ...
. Of the other eleven runners, the only ones to start at less than 25/1 were Sender Camillo (
Cherry Hinton Stakes The Duchess of Cambridge Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), ...
), Peace Dream (undefeated in four races) and Rahiyah. After being restrained towards the rear of the field Darjina began to make steady progress on the outside in the straight. She moved into second behind Finsceal Beo 200 metres from the finish and caught the favourite on the line to win by a head. After the race Soumillon said "She accelerated brilliantly. She ran a bit green but that is understandable. I didn`t think I had a chance when I got her free of the pack, but she simply would not be beaten and she will go on to even better things". In June Darjina was sent to England to contest the
Coronation Stakes The Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 7 furlong and 213 yards (1,603 metres), and it is sche ...
over one mile at
Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...
in which she started at odds of 7/2 and finished third behind
Indian Ink India ink (British English: Indian ink; also Chinese ink) is a simple black or coloured ink once widely used for writing and printing and now more commonly used for drawing and outlining, especially when inking comic books and comic strips. In ...
and the German 1000 Guineas Mi Emma. The filly returned to France and was matched against older fillies and mares in the Prix d'Astarte (a race promoted to Group 1 level for the first time) over 1600 metres on soft ground at
Deauville Racecourse Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques is a race track for thoroughbred horse racing located in Deauville in the Calvados département, in the Normandy ''région'' of France. Originally called Hippodrome de la Touques, it was named for the Touques River ...
on 29 July. She was ridden by
Thierry Thulliez Thierry Thulliez (born 4 August 1974) is a French jockey. Major wins ;France * Critérium de Saint-Cloud - (1) - ''Epicuris (2014)'' * Critérium International - ''French Fifteen (2011)'' * Poule d'Essai des Poulains - ''Style Vendome (2013)'' * ...
as Christophe Soumillon was serving a suspension for excessive use of the whip. She started joint-favourite alongside Simply Perfect in a twelve-runner field which also included Mi Emma, All Is Vanity (
Prix de Sandringham The Prix de Sandringham is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take ...
), Utrecht (
Prix Chloé The Prix Chloé is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or ...
) and Impressionnante (2006 Prix de Sandringham). Racing closer to the pace than in most of her previous races, Darjina went to the front 400 metres out and repelled several challengers before winning by half a length from Missvinski with Simply Perfect the same distance away in third. Alain de Royer-Dupré commented "Christophe divulged everything to Thulliez before the race and I thank him for being such a sportsman. This filly always finds something at the end of her races and she has plenty of stamina". On 9 September Darjina faced top class male opposition for the first time in the Prix du Moulin over 1600 metres at Longchamp and with Soumillon back in the saddle she was made the 4.5/1 third choice in the betting behind
George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
and
Ramonti Ramonti (28 March 2002 – 16 July 2019) is a retired French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He was originally trained in Italy, where he won eight races at the ages of three and four including the Group One Premio Vittorio di Capua ...
. The other seven runners included Turtle Bowl (
Prix Jean Prat The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it is s ...
) and Astronomer Royal (
Poule d'Essai des Poulains Molof (Ampas, Poule, Powle-Ma) is a poorly documented Papuan languages, Papuan language spoken by about 200 people in :id:Molof, Senggi, Keerom, Molof village, Senggi District, Keerom Regency. Classification Stephen Wurm, Wurm (1975) placed it a ...
). After racing in third place behind Archipenko and Ramonti Darjina went to the front approaching the last 200 metres and pulled away to win by two lengths. Ramonti took second ahead of George Washington and Linngari. Three weeks later the filly was sent to Ascot for the second time to contest the
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is ...
but ran poorly and came home last of the seven runners behind Ramonti. For her final run of the year, Darjina was sent to
Sha Tin Racecourse Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin District, Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club. Penfold Park is encircled by the track, and the Ho ...
for the
Hong Kong Mile The Hong Kong Mile is a Conditions races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Sha Tin Racecourse, Sha ...
on 9 December. She produced a strong late run to finish third of the thirteen runners behind Good Ba Ba and Creachadoir. In the 2007 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings was given a rating of 122, level with
Peeping Fawn Peeping Fawn (foaled January 15, 2004 in Kentucky) is a Champion Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a two-year-old, it took her four tries to break her maiden at age three. Her form then rapidly improved, reflected by a third-place ...
and Sagara and one pound inferior to
Rags to Riches Rags to riches (also rags-to-riches) refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity—sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype i ...
. She was therefore rated the seventeenth-best racehorse in the world and the equal-best filly in Europe.


2008: four-year-old season

On her four-year-old debut, Darjina was sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the
Dubai Duty Free Dubai Duty Free (DDF) is the company responsible for duty-free selling operations at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. Founded in December 1983, DDF recorded first-year sales of US$20 million. In 2023, its 40 ...
over 1900 metres at
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse Nad Al Sheba Racecourse was Thoroughbred horse racing facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates opened in 1986. It had a 2,200 m left-handed dirt race track and a left-handed grass, turf course of the same distance. It operated from November throug ...
on 29 March. Starting at odds of 5/1 in a field which included
Bullish Luck Bullish Luck ({{zh, c=牛精福星) (foaled 1999) is a Hong Kong–based Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred in Kentucky, he is the son of the 1990 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Royal Academy and out of the Alysheba mare Wild Vintage. He was sold by his b ...
, Creachadoir, Finsceal Beo and
Vodka Vodka ( ; is a clear distilled beverage, distilled alcoholic beverage. Its varieties originated in Poland and Russia. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is ...
she took the lead in the closing stages but was caught on the line and beaten half a length by the 50/1 outsider Jay Peg. On her return to Europe the filly started 4/5 favourite for the
Prix d'Ispahan The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres (about 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs), ...
at Longchamp in May but was beaten into second by Sageburg. In June she ran for the second time at Royal Ascot and was beaten a head by the Australian horse
Haradasun Haradasun (foaled 28 November 2003) was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. His most significant wins include the 2007 Group One, Group 1 Doncaster Handicap and George Ryder Stakes in Australia and the Queen Anne Stakes in Britain in 2008. Ba ...
in the
Queen Anne Stakes The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and is scheduled to take p ...
. On 2 August Darjina faced the leading three-year-old fillies
Natagora Natagora was a French champion Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare, named after a Belgian NGO. She won five of her seven starts as a two-year-old including the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes and the Group Two Prix Robert Papin. She was named E ...
,
Goldikova Goldikova (15 March 2005 – 5 January 2021) was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2010 Cartier Horse of the Year, European Horse of the Year. A filly, Goldikova won a total of 14 Group One races in her home count ...
and Nahoodh as she attempted to replicate her 2007 victory in the Prix d'Astarte (renamed the Prix Rothschild). After being restrained towards the rear by Soumillon she finished strongly but failed to overhaul Goldikova and finished second, beaten half a length. In the Prix du Moulin on 7 September Darjina was matched against Goldikova again with the same result: she was beaten half a length into second with
Paco Boy Paco Boy (foaled 24 March 2005) is a retired Irish thoroughbred racehorse who was trained by Richard Hannon Sr. He won three Group 1 races including Prix de la Forêt, Queen Anne Stakes and Lockinge Stakes. Paco Boy was known as a hold up hors ...
, Sageburg,
Henrythenavigator Henrythenavigator (foaled February 28, 2005) is an American-bred and Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2000 Guineas, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St. James's Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes in 2008. After he finished second i ...
and Natagora finishing behind. Richard Hughes took the ride when Darjina was sent to
Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in Newmarket, Suffolk, Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses: the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of ...
on 4 October for her final race and started 11/10 favourite for the
Sun Chariot Stakes The Sun Chariot Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,60 ...
. She finished second of the ten runners after failing by half a length to catch the front-running Halfway to Heaven. Despaite failing to win a race in 2008 Darjina was given a rating of 119 in the 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings, making her the 52nd best racehorse in the world and the top-rated older female in Europe. On 13 October 2008 it was announced that Darjina had been retired from racing.


Pedigree

*Darjina was
inbred Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders an ...
4 × 4 to Northern Dancer, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.


References

{{Reflist 2004 racehorse births Racehorses bred in France Racehorses trained in France Thoroughbred family 1-e