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If the most exciting sight in Flat racing is to watch a horse with a real turn of foot played daringly late, then it is possible that Zarigana might produce more than her share of thrills as the season progresses.

Mickael Barzalona has learned the Aga Khan Studs' regally bred daughter of Siyouni needs to be the last to attack and, with energy pent up in the 189 days since her fractional defeat in the Prix Marcel Boussac, he left Zarigana with barely a furlong and a half of the Prix de la Grotte to work with before he let her at the front-running Shes Perfect.

The Aga Khan's Dalkala won in a head bob at the finish line to deny favorite Tasaday in a Prix de l'Opera Longines thriller Oct. 6 at Longchamp.

Silasol led early tracked by multiple French group winner Tasaday and Secret Gesture but entering the straight faded out of it as Christophe Soumillon urged Tasaday into command. Dalkala moved from midpack to run with Tasaday and doggedly pursued the front-runner down the stretch, drawing even in the final strides before thrusting her nose in front to win a tight photo.

Thistle Bird uncorked a strong rally to take third, a neck back.

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp started off in the best possible fashion for the Aga Khan as the owner celebrated a winner in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay.

It was Valirann, a course-and-distance winner in Group Three company last month, who stepped up one grade with Christophe Soumillon producing him with a strong late run and holding off stern challenges from Montclair and Lucky Loo in a head-bob.

British raider Nearly Caught attemped to make all of the mile and seven furlongs but weakened in the closing stages and was sixth.

Hazar Imam at Longchamps for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2012-10-07

Paris, France: Princess Zahra's horse Mandesha won at Longchamp. HH Aga Khan attended with His daughter Zahra, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the Hippodrome de Longchamp. Winning owner Princess Zahra Khan said, 'The Arc is a dream which will carry on to next year.' Winning breeder the Aga Khan said, 'We opted for the Opera instead of the Arc when we decided she would stay in training and besides three-year-old fillies don't have a good record in the race.'

October 1, 2006 Longchamp, Paris: Winning breeder the Aga Khan said, "We opted for the Opera instead of the Arc when we decided she would stay in training and besides three-year-old fillies don't have a good record in the race."