Shamardal claimed the first leg of an international double on the weekend when Happy Hippy won the Listed James H B Carr Stakes at Randwick on Sydney Cup day.

The Darley shuttler completed the second leg with G3 German winner Zazou who is now one of the favourites for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp on May 16.

Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) will return to Darley’s NSW base at an increased service fee $66,000 (inc gst) this year.  The rise comes on the back of his G1 winning filly Faint Perfume and fellow stakes winners Shamoline Warrior, Marquardt, Run For Wilson and Happy Hippy.

Shamardal has now sired 60 individual winners in Australia at a 60% strike rate.  Patinack Farm filly Happy Hippy was his first Australia bred winner when she was successful in a Taree maiden on 27 October 2008.

Happy Hippy (3f Shamardal – Springburn by Soviet Lad) defeated Lonhro’s little sister Shannara and stablemate So Anyway at Randwick.  She is from a half-sister to G1 Salinger Stakes winner Notoire and was a $32,000 foal when consigned by Edinglassie Stud at the Inglis NSW Winter Sale in 2007.

In Germany on Sunday, Shamardal colt Zazou was a three length winner of the G3 Dr Busch-Memorial over 1700m at Krefeld.  He won a Cologne maiden last August and added a valuable sales related event at Baden-Baden in October.  

Trainer Mario Hofer sent Zazou to France for the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November and he was far from disgraced when placed behind the Sheikh Mohammed owned colt Passion For Gold (Medaglia D´Oro).  He was the top-rated German juvenile on the strength of that effort.

Zazou exhibited a smart turn of acceleration to lead with 300m remaining at Krefeld and then surged clear to score in dominant fashion.  “I expected Zazou to win and he will now go straight into the French 2000 Guineas,” Hofer said.   “All going well, he will then run in the French Derby and I think 2100m will be ideal.”

Zazou (3c Shamardal – Zaza Top by Lomitas) was a 38,000 euros buy for W H Sport International at the German yearling sale in September 2008.  His dam Zaza Top was a Listed winner at Hoppegarten and she was also G3 placed in Milan.

Zaza Top’s second dam Nadia Nerina (Northern Dancer) is a sister to former Cambridge Stud sire Danzatore and a half-sister to the dam of G1 AJC Flight Stakes winner Danarani (Danehill).

Zazou is shadowing Shamardal who completed the French 2000 Guineas – Derby double in 2005 before bowing out with another Group 1 in the St James Palace Stakes.