Sunday 20 September 2015
KARAKTAR put a three and a half month absence from the track behind him on Saturday, giving a courageous display to secure the Gr.3 Prix du Prince d’Orange at Longchamp.
The colt had not been seen in public since he slipped up on the turn and suffered a slight injury in the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club. KARAKTAR had been sent off favourite in the Chantilly Classic after impressive performances in both the Listed Prix François Mathet and Gr.3 Prix Noailles, but was unable to show his true worth after the incident.
On his eagerly-awaited return to competition in the Gr.3 Prix du Prince d’Orange, Alain de Royer-Dupré’s charge proved that he was back to his old self when bravely outbattling Sumbal in a duel to the line. KARAKTAR conserved a neck advantage over Gr.2 scorer Sumbal at the finish, with the rest of the field a further seven lengths adrift. This was a third Stakes win of his career.
KARAKTAR had been considered as a potential Arc contender, but his trainer felt that the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on 4th October will come too quickly for the colt, and nominated the Gr.2 Prix du Conseil de Paris two weeks later as a likely target.
By High Chaparral, KARAKTAR is a half-brother to Stakes placed Karatash (Halling), and to Karezak (Azamour), a Group 1 runner-up over hurdles. He is out of dual winner Karawana (King’s Best), while his second dam Karaliyfa (Kahyasi) is a half-sister to Gr.3 victrix Karasta, Gr.2 winning stayer Kasthari and Gr.3 scorer Kargali.
Updated on 21/09/2015.
