BC Internationals: Mile contender Karar

Like Home of the Brave, Karar is an also-ran from the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) who’s much happier to get the opportunity he really wanted all along in the Mile (G1).

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the Al Shaqab runner enters in similarly fine form this time around. Karar’s international profile for last year outlined his troubled third in the Prix du Pin (G3) and his bang-up second in the Prix de la Foret (G1) on the way to Santa Anita.

Although the Turf Sprint figured to be too quick for him, Karar fluffed whatever chance he might have had by totally missing the break. He found himself dead last behind them all, then rushed up and burned more energy by making up a lot of ground into the teeth of Obviously’s warp pace. Karar was spent by that effort and gave way in last.

Eighth in his May 1 reappearance in the Prix du Muguet (G2), Karar was a better third in the Prix du Palais-Royal (G3). He looked to be retreating before finding another little burst to snare a placing to Godolphin’s promising Inns of Court, who later missed by a whisker in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1).