Valyra (3 May 2009 – 29 August 2012) was a British–bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse owned by HH Aga Khan IV and trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. She won the 2012 Prix de Diane, but died in an accident later in the year.
| Valyra | |
|---|---|
 Racing silks of Aga Khan | |
| Sire | Azamour |
| Grandsire | Night Shift |
| Dam | Valima |
| Damsire | Linamix |
| Sex | Filly |
| Foaled | 3 May 2009 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | HH Aga Khan IV |
| Owner | HH Aga Khan IV |
| Trainer | Jean-Claude Rouget |
| Record | 3: 3-0-0 |
| Earnings | £494,917[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Prix de Diane (2012) | |
Breeding
editValyra was the daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Azamour. Her dam, Valima, won the Listed Prix Imprudence and is a daughter of Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Linamix.[1]
Racing career
editValyra did not race as a two-year-old and made her first racecourse appearance on 14 April 2012 at Bordeaux Le Bouscat Racecourse, when she won by three quarters of a length from Glowing Cloud. She then won a conditions race at Chantilly by three lengths form O'Keefe.[1] Valyra started the Prix de Diane as a 25/1 outsider, with Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Beauty Parlour starting as the 5/6 favourite. Jockey Johnny Murtagh settled Valyra near the rear of the 12-runner field in the early stages of the race. She quickened with 2 furlongs left to run and challenged the leader, Beauty Parlour, with 150 yards remaining. She took the lead with 120 yards left and ran on to win by three quarters of a length from Beauty Parlour, with Rjwa a further three lengths back in third place.[2] On 29 August she sustained a hind leg fracture when cantering on the beach at Deauville and was put down.[3] Her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget said "It is a terrible accident and a great loss for His Highness the Aga Khan and our stable. We have lost a filly with true class. She was a very sound individual and a pleasure to train."[4] At the time she was priced at about 12/1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.[5]
Pedigree
edit| Sire Azamour (IRE) 2001 |
Night Shift (USA) 1980 |
Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalma | |||
| Ciboulette | Chop Chop | ||
| Windy Answer | |||
| Asmara (USA) 1993 |
Lear Fan | Roberto | |
| Wac | |||
| Anaza | Darshaan | ||
| Azaarika | |||
| Dam Valima (FR) 2002 |
Linamix (FR) 1987 |
Mendez | Bellypha |
| Miss Carina | |||
| Lunadix | Breton | ||
| Lutine | |||
| Vadlawysa (IRE) 1995 |
Always Fair | Danzig | |
| Carduel | |||
| Vadlava | Bikala | ||
| Vadsa (Family: 20-d)[7] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Valyra". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
- ^ "Prix de Diane result". Racing Post. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
- ^ "Arc contender Valyra dies after freak accident on Deauville beach". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
- ^ "Arc hope Valyra put down after beach accident". Racing Post. 2012-08-29. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
- ^ "Arc fancy Valyra put down". Sky Sports. 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
- ^ "Valyra pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Jennie Winkle – Family 20-d". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-05-06.