At The Race - DALAKHANI TAKES ARC GLORY - 2003-10-05

Aga Khan praise for 'a real champion'Christophe Soumillon, jockey Dalakhani: 'It's a race I wanted to win throughout my apprenticeship and it's unbelievable to ride a horse like him. He's a real champion and I love him so much.'
H H Aga Khan, owner Dalakhani: 'He has got to be an outstanding horse, as a two-year-old, as a three-year-old and over all distances and all goings. He is a beautiful mover. I was worried about the ground as he hadn't won on it since he was a two-year-old, but he proved he could handle anything. It is always difficult to make comparisons between horses. This horse possesses a concentration of unusual talents.'
Richard Hills, jockey Mubtaker: 'He's a good horse and he's got a big heart. He was just a bit fresh with me and ran a little bit keen going down the hill and got me on the quarters of First Charter, and I just had to pull him off. In this ground when you've got a horse travelling you've got to keep going forwards with them. It just shows what a brave horse he is. He tried to get back but the winner was too strong.'
Michael Kinane, jockey High Chaparral: 'I started to struggle at a vital point turning for home, but he laboured a little bit on the heavy ground. Maybe it doesn't suit him round here. He seems to be better going left-handed.'
Bruce Raymond, assistant racing manager to Kris Kin's owner Saeed Suhail: 'He was struggling with the pace and turning down the hill he got wiped out by Frankie's horse (Doyen). But he was always struggling on the track.'