Karaktar On Track For French Derby

The Aga Khan’s Karaktar (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), the winner of his two outings this year including the G3 Prix Noailles Apr. 20, is one of 18 remaining in the May 31 G1 Prix du Jockey Club after Tuesday’s scratching stage. Karaktar is likely to be trainer Alain de Royer Dupre’s lone representative as he looks to win the French Derby for a seventh time. 

“He worked [Tuesday] and so far all the lights are green, so hopefully he can run at Chantilly,” said Georges Rimaud, the Aga Khan’s stud manager. “The draw is an always an issue, but that is in the hands of the gods. There is nothing we can do about it, so you wait until after the draw and make a plan to deal with it at the last minute. It will be interesting to see how he goes against better competition and in a bigger field.” 

Aidan O’Brien has never won the Prix du Jockey Club and he has four contenders remaining: Cape Clear Island (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), War Envoy (War Front) and Sir Isaac Newton (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), the 3.6 million guineas Tattersalls October yearling who is entered in a Gowran Park maiden Wednesday. Andre Fabre has two engaged: Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and G1 French Guineas second New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).