Karaktar could become the Aga Khan’s seventh French Derby
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Chantilly’s Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) has been the property of the Aga Khan
on six occasions since 1979, and it could be a case of seven up in Sunday’s
edition with the likely favorite Karaktar (High Chaparral) charged with sporting
the emerald green.
Mastering testing conditions when annexing the March 28 Prix Francois Mathet
over this 10 1/2-furlong trip at Saint-Cloud, the homebred was equally at home
on a fast surface when following up in the Prix Noailles (Fr-G3) –also at this
unique distance — at Longchamp last time April 20.
“He’s climbed up the ladder, his form is good and he’s improved since last
year,” commented Georges Rimaud, the French stud and racing manager to his
owner-breeder. “He seems to be pretty efficient at the distance, so it will be
interesting to see how he goes against better competition and in a bigger field.
He’s in good form and has done everything he’s been asked to do up until now.”
One of the least-known quantities in opposition is Hspirit’s Silverwave
(Silver Frost), who put the previously unbeaten Epicuris (Rail Link) to the
sword in the Prix la Force (Fr-G3) at Longchamp April 6 and he has classic
pedigree, being by the 2009 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Fr-G1) winner and a
half-brother to Stormy River (Verglas), who was placed in that contest.
Joseph Allen’s War Dispatch (War Front) is on a roll, with his last five
outings resulting in successes and culminating in the Prix de Guiche (Fr-G3)
over nine furlongs here May 8.
“He has been doing very well, no problem at all,” said trainer Jean-Claude
Rouget. “We have no form lines with the favorites, but I think he can be
competitive and run a good race. He always does the minimum and is never
impressive. He has been winning every time, but in lesser company. This is the
target and I think he is arriving in good shape for it.”
Intriguingly, Joseph O’Brien is back on the May 10 Poule d’Essai des Poulains
sixth Highland Reel (Galileo), with Ryan Moore partnering Cape Clear Island (Fastnet
Rock) as Aidan O’Brien looks for a first renewal. The latter was second to
Ampere (Galileo) in Longchamp’s Prix Hocquart (Fr-G2) over 11 furlongs May 10
and is fitted with blinkers for the first time.
One of the lesser-exposed types is Muteb bin Abdullah’s Mostaneer (Dutch
Art), who booked his ticket with a game win in the Prix de Suresnes over nine
furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte April 17.
Agent Murphy (Cape Cross) proved more than worthy of a tilt at Sunday’s Grand
Prix de Chantilly (Fr-G2) with an authoritative success when trying black-type
company for the first time in Ascot’s Buckhounds S. Having only his fifth start
in that May 9 12-furlong contest, he was professional and straightforward as
well as stylish and will put it up to the home defense here.
That defense is led by last year’s winner Spiritjim (Galileo), who reverts to
middle distances after a failed attempt at a marathon trip in Longchamp’s Prix
de Barbeville (Fr-G3) last time May 3. Never a factor when sixth on that
seasonal bow, the five-year-old has questions to answer along with Godolphin’s
Manatee (Monsun), who was disappointing when fourth on his comeback in the Prix
d’Hedouville (Fr-G3) over 12 furlongs at Longchamp last time May 6.
Last year’s Prix du Conseil de Paris (Fr-G2) winner is worth keeping the
faith with, especially as he is Andre Fabre’s sole representative in a race in
which he holds the record of eight winners.
“Manatee has come on well since his first run of the season, which was a
respectable performance considering he was carrying a penalty and the ground was
very soft,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “We are expecting him to
show some improvement and good ground should be fine.”
Often a quick consolation prize for those who just missed out on victory in
the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1), Chantilly’s Prix de Sandringham (Fr-G2)
looks poised for one of that classic’s latest placegetters in Mexican Gold (Medaglia
d’Oro) on Sunday.
Third in the May 10 Longchamp highlight, having won the Prix de la Grotte
(Fr-G3) over that track and trip four weeks earlier, Khalid Abdullah’s homebred
will have something to aim at with the classy but one-dimensional La Berma
(Lawman) in the line-up. Annihilating her opponents by six lengths when allowed
to dominate from the front in Longchamp’s Prix du Pont-Neuf over seven furlongs
last time May 6, she has stamina to prove tackling a mile for the first time.
The Niarchos Family’s “TDN Rising Star’ Night of Light (Sea the Stars) has to
step up on her latest narrow win in the course-and-distance Prix Volterra May 8,
but remains open to progression back on a sound surface.
One of the Aga Khan and Alain de Royer-Dupre’s quietly-quietly projects,
Kataniya (Raven’s Pass), takes the next step up the ladder in Sunday’s Prix de
Royaumont (Fr-G3) at Chantilly.
Although not impressive when getting the better of the re-opposing
Wildenstein runner Lady of Kyushu (Smart Strike) in the 11-furlong Prix de la
Seine at Longchamp May 10, the homebred looked a true stayer in the making and
would benefit from a stronger pace if it is available.
In a blanket to that contest, Scuderia Vittadini’s Moi Meme (Teofilo) was
third and just behind in fourth was Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd’s Ame Bleue (Dubawi).
As a daughter of the high-class Aquarelliste (Danehill) and a member of the
Fabre stable — successful on a record 11 occasions — she is worthy of respect,
as is the British raider Toujours l’Amour (Authorized). Christopher Wright and
Lordship Stud’s representative has been kept away from Epsom despite winning the
Lingfield Oaks Trial last time May 9, and will find life slightly easier here.
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