Zainta

Zainta made her racecourse debut in a minor race at Croisé-Laroche Racecourse near Lille over 1800 metres on 2 November in which she won by half a length from Access To Fame.[6]

On her first run as a three-year-old Zainta contested the 2000 metre Prix de Croissy on 5 April at Longchamp Racecourse and won in impressive style by five lengths.[7] Three weeks later the filly was stepped up in class and started the 3/5 favourite for the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux over 1800 metres at Longchamp. She led from the start and stayed on well in the straight to win by a neck from Deskaheh.[8] On 17 May at the same track Zainta, accompanied by her pacemaker Mannsara, started the 5/2 second choice in the betting behind the Prix Marcel Boussac winner Loving Claim in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary over 2000 metres. The best-fancied of the other six runners were Abbatiale (Prix Penelope), Deskaheh and Miscast. After being restrained by Mosse in the early stages, Zainta took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and won by a length from Loving Claim with Good Enough in third.[9]

In the Prix de Diane over 2100 metres at Chantilly Racecourse on 7 June Zainta, again aided by Mannsara, was made the 2/5 favourite ahead of Loving Claim in an eleven-runner field which also included Good Enough, Insight and Abbatiale. In the build-up to the race, Royer-Dupre commented, "If she repeats her Saint-Alary form, Zainta should go close, but it is her fourth race of the season. She looks beautiful and I hope she's kept her form, although it's difficult to judge".[10] She was held up by Mosse in the early stages as Mannsara duelled for the lead with Good Enough's pacemaker Freak Out, but made rapid progress to take the lead in the straight. She was overtaken by Abbatiale 200 metres out but rallied strongly to regain the advantage in the final strides and won by a short head.[11][12]

After a two and a half month break, Zainta returned in the Prix de la Nonette at Deauville Racecourse on 22 August. She started odds-on favourite and took her winning streak to six as she won "easily" by a length from Bayourida.[13] On 13 September the filly was stepped up in distance for the Prix Vermeille over 2400 metres at Longchamp when she started the 9/10 favourite but sustained her first defeat as she came home third behind the British-trained challengers Leggera and Cloud Castle. On her final racecourse appearance Zainta was matched against male opposition in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over the same course and distance on 4 October but made no impact and finished thirteenth of the fourteen runners.