Dalkala sees off Star

Oaks runner-up second again

Last updated: 6th October 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dalkala sees off Star

Shirocco Star: Second in Paris

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Dalkala held on from Shirocco Star in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp on Saturday.

Shirocco Star was second in the Epsom Oaks and the Irish Oaks earlier this season and was sent off a 5-2 favourite to claim her first success of the campaign.

However, Dalkala (3-1) was given a canny front-running ride by Christophe-Patrice Lemaire, who kept something up his sleeve for the finish.

Shirocco Star raced just off the pace under Darryll Holland and looked poised to go on and win when she was pulled out for her challenge.

However, although she tried hard to overhaul the leader, Dalkala kept on bravely and maintained a narrow lead all the way to the line, with La Conquerante finishing third.

"She just doesn't want to quite go through with it," said Morrison.

"She's a top-class filly and it's not that she doesn't try, but she just seems to pull up a bit. We tried her in blinkers at home and it worked, but it didn't today.

"It's frustrating but we will probably try again in the fillies' race on Champions Day."

Of the winner, owner the Aga Khan said: "My operation is about breeding and the fillies are the most important aspect of it.

"Apart from the loss of Valyra, we have done extremely well with the fillies this year."

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