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The last big weekend of racing before the Breeders' Cup World Championships provided some pointers to the outcome of the big races -- and tossed in more than a little spice of confusion thanks to some significant upsets.

The biggest race of the weekend, however, was the $5.5 million Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris, where the Aga Khan's filly, Zarkava, rallied from a slow start to win by 2 lengths over Youmzain. Soldier of Fortune and It's Gino dead-heated for third and fourth. Duke of Marmalade finished seventh.

Zarkava, with Christophe Soumillon in the irons, remained near the back of the 16-horse field entering the stretch run. Working through traffic, she was able to hit the front in the final 100 meters and went on to the win in 2:28.8 over "good to soft" turf, becoming the first filly winner of the Arc since Urban Sea turned the trick 15 years earlier.

Zarkava, a daughter of Zamindar, now is unbeaten in seven starts. "We had no worries," said winning trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. "She is certainly the best horse I have ever trained."

The Aga Khan, visibly pleased with his filly's victory, said she will not race again this year and no decision has been made about whether to keep her in training in 2009.

In other Longchamp races:

Lady Marian caught front-running favorite Lush Lashes in the stretch drive of the Prix de l'Opera and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The 3-year-old Nayef filly got by on the outside and ran best in the final 100 meters. Jim Bolger, trainer of Lush Lashes, told the British Press Association plans for that filly to attend the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf may be compromised by an injury in Sunday's race. He said the filly "returned with cut on the outside of her off-fore. I think that will be quite sore and we'll have to see how long that holds her up for before making a plan."

Marchand d'Or rushed to the lead in the final 500 meters of Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye Sunday at Longchamp and won easily by 1 1/2 lengths over Moorhouse Lad. Borderlescott was third. Winning trainer Freddie Head said he will consider Marchand d'Or, who ran the 1,000 meters in 54.4 seconds, for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong races in December.

Naaqoos made all the pace in the Grand Criterium for 2-year-olds and held on to win by a neck over Milanais. Previously undefeated Mastercraftsman finished fourth. Trained by Freddy Head for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Naaquoos won for the third time in four starts. Head said he will recommend the colt for the Two Thousand Guineas next year at Newmarket.

Proportional upset the Criterium des Pouliches, beating Marquesa by 3 lengths. Entered off a maiden win in her second career start, the daughter of Beat Hollow finished in 1:36. Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek said Proportional will be entered for the English One Thousand Guineas.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/06/2008

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