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The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Valia lit up an otherwise humdrum card at Longchamp this afternoon with a commanding victory in the Listed Prix de Thiberville for three-year-old fillies and could develop into a legitimate contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

De Royer Dupre and owner the Aga Khan presciently entered the daughter of Sea The Stars and 2014 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Veda in Europe's most prestigious race last month, despite her being unraced.

Comments: Did you know that at a race meeting yesterday at Longchamp, France, Hazar Imam's horse Dalakhani won.. Hazar Imam was there, it seemed on His own and He gave a very short interview talking about the Arc race in 3 weeks time, he said he hadn't made His mind up as to which horse would be running etc.. the jockey riding the horse yesterday was Soumillion. Hazar Imam looked happy, wearing a navy suit and was pleased to accept the trophy. Don't have a recording of the race as it caught me on the hop.

Day two from LongchampsDalakhani justified his status as pre-race favourite, powering home in a thrilling fast finish to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
The French Derby winner - ridden by Christophe Soumillon - had to come in from stall 14, wide out on the right, and held off a brave challenge from Mubtaker.
Ireland's High Chaparral finished third in the 13-horse race for the second year in a row.
'It's a race I wanted to win throughout my apprenticeship and it's unbelievable to ride a horse like him,' said 20-year-old Soumillon.

On Sunday, Zarkava will put her unbeaten record on the line in attempting to become the Aga Khan's fourth winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, recognised as the pinnacle of achievement for middle-distance horses in Europe.

The Aga has raced some pretty special fillies in his time, including Aliysa, whose disqualification from the 1989 Oaks led to the owner boycotting British racing for some four years, but Zarkava looks like the best of them all.

The Aga Khan Studs has purchased the Lagardere family
The Aga Khan, one of Europe's leading breeders and owners, has purchased the Lagardere family's entire bloodstock operation, according to the Racing Post. The acquisition from the family of the late Jean Luc Lagardere includes 188 horses and French farms Haras d'Ouilly and Haras du Val Henry, the latter housing the leading stallion Linamix.
The Lagardere horses includes 62 broodmares and 74 horses in training, all of which will remain in France.