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Timeform rate Zarkava on a par with Miesque and Indian Skimmer
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Tony Calvin /
06 October 2008 /
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She is joint best filly/mare in last 20 years, and seventh in last 40 years.
Timeform have put a lofty provisional rating of 133 on Zarkava's stunning Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe win - and that makes her the joint third-best filly/mare in the past 20 years, according to the world-renowned ratings organization.
And they believe that she has the ability to become the best.
Allez France (1974) and Habibti (1983) have recorded the best female performances in the past 40 years, posting a rating of 136, and Sunday's comfortable two-length defeat of Youmzain sees Zarkava ranked alongside more recent greats such as Miesque and Indian Skimmer.
Dahlia, Pebbles (both 135) and Petite Etoile and All Along (134) have also posted top class efforts.
And the weekend win is seen as 7lb better than that of the last filly to win the Arc, Urban Sea in 1993.
Timeform spokesman Simon Walker commented: "Provisionally, we have her on 133.
"Zarkava's basic rating for winning the Arc was 131 but she has been credited with an extra 2lb for the style of her success and the fact that she didn't have an entirely trouble-free passage.
"She's undoubtedly one of the best fillies in recent memory and, still unbeaten, has the potential to be the best if she's given the chance to continue racing against colts."
HOW ZARKAVA SHAPES UP AGAINST THE PAST FEMALE GREATS
* Miesque 133 and Indian Skimmer 133, both in 1988, are the highest rated fillies (trained in Europe) by Timeform in the last 20 years.
* Allez France 136 (1974) and Habibti 136 (1983) are the highest rated fillies/mares by Timeform in the last 40 years.
* The last filly to win Arc was Urban Sea in 1993, but she was only rated 126 - it was a bunched finish and not a great renewal.
* Highest rated Arc winners of the last 20 years were Peintre Celebre at 137 in 1997 and Montjeu at 137 in 1999.
* Highest rated Arc winner of the last 10 years was Montjeu at 137 in 1999.
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