Vereva

Vereva (foaled 11 May 1994) was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a brief racing career which lasted from April to August 1997 she won three of her four races. After winning minor events on her first two starts she recorded her most important victory in the Group 1 Prix de Diane. She was retired from racing after being narrowly beaten in her only subsequent race. She had very little success as a dam of winners.

Vereva
Sire	Kahyasi
Grandsire	Ile de Bourbon
Dam	Vearia
Damsire	Mill Reef
Sex	Mare
Foaled	11 May 1994[1]
Country	Ireland
Colour	Brown
Breeder	Aga Khan IV
Owner	Aga Khan IV
Trainer	Alain de Royer-Dupré
Record	4: 3-1-0
Earnings	£190,797
Major wins
Prix de Diane (1997)

Background

Vereva was a brown mare with a small white star[2] bred in Ireland by her owner, Aga Khan IV. She was sent into training with Alain de Royer-Dupré in France and was ridden in three of her four races by Gerald Mosse.

She was sired by Kahyasi, who won the Epsom Derby in 1988 before becoming a good sire of stayers, jumpers and broodmares. His other foals included Enzeli, Hasili, Khalkevi, Karasi and Zainta.[3] Vereva's dam Vearia showed fair form on the track, winning two minor races from seven starts,[4] and became a very successful broodmare who also produced Valanour.[5] She was a half-sister to both Vayrann and Niece Divine (the dam of Natroun).[6]

Racing career

1997: three-year-old season

Vereva made her racecourse debut in a minor race over 2000 metres on soft ground at Chantilly Racecourse on 30 April in which she was ridden by Dominique Boeuf and won by a length from Street Lina.[7] Mosse took over the ride when the filly contested the Prix de la Seine on 25 May 1997 at Longchamp Racecourse and came home three lengths clear of her stablemate Tashiriya.[8]

In the Prix de Diane over 2100 metres at Chantilly Vereva was coupled in the betting with her stablemate Darashandeh and started the 2.7/1 second favourite behind the Prix Saint-Alary winner Brilliance. The other nine runners included Always Loyal (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches), Queen Maud (Prix Vanteaux), Mousse Glacee (Prix des Réservoirs) and Ryafan. She raced close behind the leaders and turned in sixth place behind the front-running Ryafan. Vereva took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and won by one and a half lengths from Mousse Glacee with Brilliance two length back in third.[9] After the race Alain de Royer-Dupré commented "Vereva is a fast improving filly, though I wouldn't he absolutely sure that she would stay one and a half miles. The Coral-Eclipe is a possible target".[10]

After a break of two and a half months Vereva returned for the Group 3 Prix de la Nonette over 2000 metres at Deauville Racecourse on 23 August. She was made the odds-on favourite but after taking the lead in the last 200 metres she was caught on the line and beaten a head by the British-trained Dust Dancer.

Breeding record

At the end of her racing career Vereva was retired to become a breeding stallion at her owner's stud in Ireland. In November 2006 the mare was put up for auction at the Goffs sale and was bought for €105,000 by the bloodstock agent Pascale Menard.[11] She produced at least six foals and one winner between 2001 and 2012:

• Vermentina, bay filly, 2001, by Darshaan. Unraced.
• Vezara, bay filly, 2004, by Grand Lodge. Won two races.[12]
• Virana, bay filly, 2005, by King's Best. Failed to win in six races.
• Linareva, grey filly, 2007, by Linamix. Unraced.
• Diena, bay filly, 2010, by Librettist. Unraced.
• Charm Blue, bay filly, 2012, by Naaqoos. Failed to win in five races.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Vereva (IRE), brown mare, 1994[1]

Sire Kahyasi (IRE) 1985	Ile de Bourbon (USA) 1975	Nijinsky (CAN)	Northern Dancer
			Flaming Page
		Roseliere (FR)	Misti
			Peace Rose
	Kadissya (USA) 1979	Blushing Groom (FR)	Red God (USA)
			Runaway Bride (FR)
		Kalkeem (IRE)	Sheshoon (GB)
			Gioia (GB)
Dam Vearia (IRE) 1985	Mill Reef (USA) 1968	Never Bend	Nasrullah (GB)
			Lalun
		Milan Mill	Princequillo (IRE)
			Virginia Water
	Val Divine (FR) 1971	Val de Loir	Vieux Manoir
			Vali
		Pola Bella	Darius (GB)
			Bella Paola (family: 4-n)[6]

References

1. "Vereva pedigree". Equineline.
2. "Vereva". The Aga Khan Studs.
3. "Kahyasi – Progeny". Racing Post.
4. "Vearia – Profiles". Equibase.
5. "Vearia – Progeny". Racing Post.
6. "St. Marguerite – Family 4-n". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
7. "Prix de la Chapelle-en-Serval result". Racing Post. 30 April 1997.
8. "Prix de la Seine result". Racing Post. 25 May 1997.
9. "Prix de Diane result". Racing Post. 8 June 1997.
10. "Vereva gives stylish display". The Irish Times. 9 June 1997.
11. "Goffs November Mares Sale – Catalogue". Racing Post.
12. "Vezara – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.