if you looked at the top 3year old fillies of the past few years here in Europe, with the exception of Ouija Board, the rest havent really advertised keeping fillies in training. Peeping Fawn and Alexandrova didnt race at all as they just were not showing the same zest for racing, and the Aga Khan's daughter's fillies Mandesha and Darjini were not able to improve on their 3year old form..

To be honest, Im surprised that they havent already retired her, though it would be fantastic if we got to see her in 09!

flying filly goes along with the alliterative gutsy gelding. yeah, they both get nerve wracking after a bit.

First of all, Personal Ensign raced through her 4YO season, despite screws in her leg and she was one of the finest broodmares of the last 25 years. Second of all, of course none of these GREAT horses reproduce themselves, and I doubt any realistic breeder even considers that. However, some might say that over racing them lessens their chances of reproducing at a high level.

And, finally, Zarkava's foals will never sell for " oodles of money " and dollars play absolutely zero consideration into whatever decision the Aga Kan makes.

Unfunny.
Well.... well... you are unnice.
Take that.

Put it in a translator.

Hoss! You'd better start being nice to him, or, or... Hell I don't know :p

Yes, I'm aware PE raced through her 4-year-old year, and with screws in her leg. I wasn't discussing her age at retirement; I was saying she was the only great filly in recent memory I could think of who had a good career as a broodmare. You have a much greater knowledge of the past few decades of racing than I, I'm sure you're aware of other great fillies who may have actually topped themselves. I just can't think of any. Likewise, my comment about selling foals was referring to the foals of great fillies in general, not Zarkava in particular.

So why retire and rush to breed the fillies, then? If it's not the chance of duplicating or improving, and it's not about money, what is it then? Because baby horsies are cute? I understand that the Aga Kan doesn't need the money, but if it's not to produce a better foal, and not about the money, then why retire? They like racing them up to a point and then they're tired of them so on to the next new shiny? If that's true, that's lame. Or typical of the male mind, I guess, depending on how you look at it. ;)

The over-racing reduces their chances of reproducing at a high level sounds to me like an excuse. I'd like to see studies proving that. I could see where continuing to medicate could affect later fertility, as it does in other large mammals, but in that case it's not due to physical exertion.

Hee hee- I was thinking of Funny Cide's Derby and that call, too, when I typed up that post. You read my mind!

Let's see- gallant, galloping... gonadfree... hmm...the Gs are definitely tougher.

Why? He breeds to breed. I assume he knows more than I do and I am not so presumptuous to assume that I understand his motives or question them. He seems to do pretty well breeding.

But, you probably know best, so I won't question you either.

It's because most of the horses that are retired early really haven't done enough. She has.

Who in the **** is Darjini?

Her sibling...Same Sire

Owner: Princess Zahra Aga Khan
Breeder: H.H. Aga Khan's Studs S.C.
Winnings: 9 Starts: 5 - 1 - 2, US$2,183,716

at 3,
1st Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1), Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1), Prix de la Grotte (Fr-G3), Prix d'Astarte (Fr-G1)
at 2,
1st Prix Cordova
at 4,
2nd Dubai Duty Free(UAE,G1,1777mT), Prix D'ispahan

Her name is Darjina and horses are related through their dams.

sorry,
dont know who i was thinking of while trying to write down Darjina - 2nd in all 6 starts this year (all G1s)

Same sire. Did'nt see any relation to the dams.

http://www.pedigreequery.com/darjina

http://www.pedigreequery.com/zarkava

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...Gotcha :)