Traditionally the launchpad for France's aspiring players on the premier middle-distance scene, the G2 Prix d'Harcourt which is switched from its familiar home at Longchamp to Chantilly on Sunday has like many others of its type become the reserve of Andre Fabre with a record nine winners including his personal favourite Manduro (Ger). While Ampere (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) and Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) have a lot to find to reach the heights of that illustrious performer, both are lightly-raced 4-year-olds open to much improvement and are the kind of horses with which their trainer excels. The former, who carries the Haras de Saint Pair colours, was successful in the 11-furlong G2 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp in May prior to finishing second in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris back there in July. Not seen since finishing third behind the stable's G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano over this trip at Deauville in August, the homebred's readiness on this return will be tested by the likes of Corine Barande-Barbe's new project Garlingari (Fr) (Linngari {Ire}). He upstaged Qatar Racing's Sumbal (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) when winning the G3 Prix Exbury at this distance at Saint-Cloud Mar. 20 and will be a tough opponent for Ampere and the Listed Prix Frederic de Lagrange scorer Harlem. One other who could play a hand en route to bigger and better things is His Highness The Aga Khan's Karaktar (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who was a revelation last spring before flopping when eighth as the favourite for the G1 Prix du Jockey Club here in June. He has only had one outing subsequently, when battling past Sumbal in Longchamp's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange in September, after which trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre expressed disappointment which speaks volumes of his expectations of this reportedly fragile performer.
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