Zarak facing key Tuesday workout as Alain De Royer-Dupre eyes Arc challenge

The four-year-old has had a break since winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the beginning of July.

"I would have preferred to go to Maisons-Laffitte to have a main gallop on their race-day last week, but instead he will have a gallop on Tuesday morning. If he does well, we are going to the Arc," said trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre.

However, he will not be joined by stablemate Shakeel, who has not been seen since beating the ill-fated Permian in the Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud in the middle of July.

The son of Dalakhani, who like Zarak is owned by the Aga Khan, has been ruled of the Arc due to injury.

"He will not run as he had an injury in the Grand Prix de Paris," said the trainer.

However, Royer-Dupre is considering the Arc for One Foot In Heaven, although the five-year-old has another option in the Prix du Conseil de Paris at Chantilly on October 15, a race he won in 2016.

"It also may be the Arc for One Foot In Heaven. We do not know what we will do at this stage," said Royer-Dupre.

"He has the choice to run in the Arc or the Conseil de Paris two weeks after."

Royer-Dupre reported his classy Vazirabad to be on course for the Prix du Cadran on September 30.

The five-year-old, who was a close second to Quest For More in that stamina test last autumn, made a winning return from a summer break in the Prix Gladiateur at Chantilly earlier this month.

"He is going for the Cadran for sure," Royer-Dupre added.