Door remains open for Aga Khan's Darsi

The door remains open for the impressive Prix du Jockey Club winner Darsi to try to complete a famous double for the Aga Khan in the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh on July 2nd.

Like many potential starters for Ireland's most valuable race, there remains some uncertainty about Darsi's participation but a decision on whether he runs is likely to be made soon.

"No final call has been made on whether he or Visindar runs," said the Aga Khan's representative Pat Downes yesterday. "His Highness will have to discuss with Andre Fabre what will be done with Visindar and the same will be done with Alain de Royer-Dupre. But a decision will have to be made soon if either one is trained with the Irish Derby in mind."

Visindar is being quoted "with a run" by some bookmakers but there appears to be more confidence among the layers about Darsi's chances of making the Curragh classic with Cashmans of Cork making the colt a 5 to 1 second favourite behind Hala Bek.

"Darsi remains a possible. Obviously if he did come here he would have to be supplemented into the race," Downes added.

A 100,000 supplementary fee is necessary for many of the market leaders, including the favourite Hala Bek, to be put into the Irish Derby and the prohibitive figure may yet have an influence on the make-up of the race.

However, the race has been a lucky one for the Aga Khan who is looking to cement his position as the most successful Derby owner with a sixth success in the classic after Alamshar three years ago and four other colts, Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988) and Sinndar (2000) who all completed the Epsom-Curragh double.

The last horse to complete the Chantilly-Curragh double was Montjeu in 1999 but with the Epsom hero Sir Percy now more likely to go to the Eclipse at Sandown, and some of the other Epsom principals not fully committed to Ireland, Darsi's chances of bridging that gap could increase.

Geoff Wragg, for instance, has cast some doubt over the Curragh participation of the Epsom runner-up Dragon Dancer who could instead try to lose his maiden tag in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Dragon Dancer, beaten just a short head by Sir Percy at Epsom, would also have to be supplemented and the possibility of quick ground is also a concern for the Newmarket trainer.

"We will make a decision whether or not to supplement him closer to the time when the race closes," Wragg said. "If Dragon Dancer runs anywhere he wouldn't want the ground to be too firm so we will see what the weather does."

Unusually though there are no such queries surrounding the participation of the Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Best Name who has already been confirmed a definite starter at the Curragh.

"He has come out of the Jockey Club in good shape and he will travel for the Irish Derby," said trainer Robert Collet. As a result there was support for Best Name in ante-post betting with Cashmans cutting him from 12 to 1 to eights.

CASHMANS: 13-8 Hala Bek, 5 Darsi, 7 Papal Bull & Puerto Rico. 8 Best Alibi, Best Name, 16 Mountain, Fire And Rain. 5-2 Sir Percy (with a run), 4 Visindar (war.)

LADBROKES: 7-4 Hala Bek, 3 Sir Percy, 6 Dylan Thomas, 7 Darsi, Papal Bull, 8 Dragon Dancer, Puerto Rico, 10 Best Name, 12 Heliostatic, 20 Bar.