Fabre seeking another French Derby with Komorebi Andre Fabre will aim to win a fifth Prix du Jockey Club with Komorebi at the weekend after he flashed home for second behind Rayif in the Poule d’Essai Des Poulains. The Godolphin-owned colt is by Pinatubo out of Fillies’ Mile winner Lyric Of Light and has yet to finish out of the first two in six races. Master trainer Fabre, 80, has won the French Derby with Peintre Celebre (1997), Lope De Vega (2010), Intello (2013) and most recently with New Bay in 2015. “He ran a really nice race and he will now go for the Prix du Jockey Club,” said Fabre. “He showed there that he could go further and he would probably prefer better ground as well. “It looked like a step up in trip would suit him. Even though he’s by Pinatubo, the way he runs gives you encouragement.” Rival Classic Challengers Stand Ground A total of 22 were left in the race at the first forfeit stage with Aidan O’Brien responsible for seven, including Constitution River and Hawk Mountain. Karl Burke’s Hankelow, Francis-Henri Graffard’s Daryzan and Donnacha O’Brien’s A Boy Named Susie were all left in. Meanwhile, Fabre is hoping to give My Highness another chance at Classic honours in the Prix de Diane after she finished down the field behind True Love in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Also owned by Godolphin, the Ghaiyyath filly was only a 10-1 chance on the Rowley Mile and led her group on the far side of the track before fading inside the final furlong into ninth of the 19 runners. Fitness Concerns for Guineas Filly While Fabre admits to not being thrilled with her condition since her return to France, warmer weather could help in that regard and enable her to run at Chantilly on June 14. “I’m not yet totally satisfied with her since she returned from Newmarket,” said Fabre. “Ideally I would like to prepare her for the Prix de Diane, but so far I’m a bit worried she might not be ready in time as she is not exactly as well as I hoped. “I thought her performance was of a filly lacking condition, she probably would have preferred to come from behind but that was not how she ran. Time will tell, hopefully the weather will warm up which might help her.”
