not as yet produced any winners herself . Many successful racehorses fail to make an impact at stud . But Rimaud believes that the majestic thoroughbred has every chance of being a superior brood mare . `` It 's all in the blood . If the foal can get all of the qualities of each of his parents then that would be marvelous . But if he does just half of what they each did individually then I think he will still be pretty good . '' Despite his illustrious pedigree , experts are divided about the exact role that genetics plays in determining a future champion . Richard Piercy , a professor at the UK 's Royal Veterinary College , believes punters should n't be pinning their hopes on the `` superfoal '' just yet . `` Estimates that have been looked at from my research perspective to see how well performance can be inherited suggest that somewhere in the order of between 10-40 per cent of inheritance can come from the parents with regards to performance , '' said Piercy . `` But of course many other factors can relate to whether an animal can be successful or
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` Success breeds success . '' So reads the motto of Aga Khan Studs , one of the most formidable breeding operations anywhere in the world . It is at the Aga Khan 's vast stud in Normandy that one of the most eagerly-awaited births in the history of racing took place in February of this year when Zarkava , the winner of the 2008 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe , gave birth to her foal by 2009 winner Sea the Stars . `` I 've rarely had that quality of stock to breed with , '' explains Georges Rimaud , stud manager to the Aga Khan . `` It 's not every year you get a female winner of the Arc and a stallion that is also a champion and that you have access to . We tend not to do this type of mating with an unproven horse , with an unproven mare , but we thought this really had to be done . '' Despite an undefeated racing career of seven wins over seven starts , including her magnificent Arc triumph , Zarkava is said to be `` unproven '' because she has