Zarkava's trademark acceleration holds key to stifling Duke Of Marmalade's Longchamp assault
IF recent history is against Zarkava, the weather gods are on her side. They also abetted Akiyda, the last three-year-old filly to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 26 years ago, writes Julian Muscat.
The common link between them is their owner-breeder, the Aga Khan.
Just as heavy ground complemented Akiyda's stamina, quick going at Longchamp will play to Zarkava's strengths.
To see her tackle her elders for the first time on Sunday is a prospect fraught with emotion.
Victory is imperative. Conditions dictate that there can be no excuse for the imperious, unbeaten filly.
It will not be easy. It never is in the Arc, a race that devours reputations. Yet Zarkava does not trade on reputation alone. Her hallmark acceleration has swept aside all-comers, none of which have managed to stay within two lengths of her at the finish.
A similar denouement on Sunday would leave a legacy unmatched by any other filly to this observer of 30 years.
John Gosden made a fair point after Raven's Pass's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory when he described the three-year-old milers as a vintage collection.
They have won every all-aged mile race in Europe, although none has been dominant.
The irony is that the recent dry spell renders the Arc much harder to win for the presence of Duke Of Marmalade. But that's just as it should be.
Duke Of Marmalade has his own agenda: a sixth successive Group 1 triumph that would demand his own inclusion in the hall of fame.
Somehow, however, victory for him would be more rump steak than fillet. Fulfilling but certainly not mouth-watering. Duke Of Marmalade is a fearsome galloper propelled by giant lungs.
The difference is in the twin towers of greatness: Zarkava was born with what Duke Of Marmalade has acquired along the way.
Duke Of Marmalade is by some distance the main threat to Zarkava. His stablemate, Soldier Of Fortune, has not run for more than three months, having by accident or design missed a couple of mooted prep races.
He would also fare better on easy ground, a remark that applies to Getaway, Vision D'Etat and Youmzain. Then you are into the rags.
Among their number are Meisho Samson, the Japanese challenger, who has not won for 11 months, and Papal Bull, for whom victory, despite his undeniable ability, would mock the concept of the Arc as a championship decider.
No, the outcome rests between Duke Of Marmalade and Zarkava. Anything less would be hard to swallow.
As well as the Arc, which is widely regarded in the racing industry as Europe's middle-distance championship decider, Duke Of Marmalade is short-listed for the Breeders Cup Classic.
That multi-million dollar contest, which brings the Breeders Cup meeting to a close in late October at California's Santa Anita track, could be on the agenda as well for Saturday's Ascot runner-up Henrythenavigator.
This season's dual 2,000 Guineas hero, clearly ill at ease on the loose, watered ground at the Berkshire venue when outpointed by old rival Raven's Pass, is a possible competitor in both the Classic and the earlier Mile.
Although there's unlikely to be any Ballydoyle representative now in the Middle Park Stakes, the Newmarket meeting later this week will involve some of O'Brien's superior fillies.
Fifth in the Cherry Hinton Stakes there, Heart Shaped returns to the headquarters of British racing for Friday's Cheveley Park Stakes and the older Listen goes in the following afternoon's Sun Chariot Stakes.
The Cheveley Park contest could prove to have a very definite Irish flavour as trainer Kevin Prendergast has had this coveted juvenile fillies' race in mind for some time as a perfect stage for his gallant Moyglare Stud Stakes runner-up Shimah to finally fulfil her huge potential.
