By Tom Frary
Despite this renewal featuring five group 1 winners, it was the two up-and-comers Cloth of Stars and Zarak who emerged centre stage with the former finally able to achieve that status and fulfil Andre Fabre's expectations. Runner-up in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November 2015, the bay had started his 3-year-old campaign with a flourish by annexing this track's G3 Prix la Force and G2 Prix Greffulhe last spring before being committed to a tilt at the G1 Epsom Derby in June. Fading to eighth there after racing with too much zest throughout the early stages when he should have been switched off, the homebred was ridden more patiently again when third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on what proved to be his seasonal finale over 12 furlongs back here the next month. Following his smooth winning return in the G3 Prix Exbury over 10 furlongs again at this favoured circuit Mar. 19, Cloth of Stars looked ready for his return to the big league when adding Chantilly's G2 Prix d'Harcourt to his tally three weeks ago.
Prominent early and set alight by the presence of last year's G1 Eclipse hero Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) on his outer, he eventually settled to track the leader Guignol (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}) before being caught in a pocket on the rails behind that duo in early straight. For a few strides it appeared that he could be a hard-luck story, but once a big enough gap appeared between them he showed his trademark acceleration to seize the lead passing the 300-metre marker. Driven out by Mickael Barzalona to hold the surging Zarak, he gave extra when he felt the arrival of that TDN Rising Star to prevail with Silverwave and Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) running with credit on their seasonal bows over a trip too short. “We had some worries, because he didn't really settle early on but it didn't stop him,” Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “One he found the gap, he quickened nicely. We'll probably wait and see what to do now, as he's already had three runs this season and now has his group 1.”
Cloth of Stars's illustrious family has been back in the headlines of late with the Niarchos homebred Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looking set for a big season after his win in last week's G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown. His dam is Strawberry Fledge's G1 Epsom Oaks-winning full-sister Light Shift, also a half to the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup-winning champion Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector). Like Main Sequence (Aldebaran), Cloth of Stars could be on a roll now that he has won his first group 1 with the sire's progeny and all this family tending to improve with age and experience. Next to come from the dam is an as-yet unraced 3-year-old colt named Apollonian (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), a 2-year-old filly Niku (Ire) also by High Chaparral and a yearling filly by War Command.
Monday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GANAY-G1, €300,000, SCD, 5-1, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT, 2:11.70, g/s.
1–&CLOTH OF STARS (IRE), 128, c, 4, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Strawberry Fledge, by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Lingerie (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Northern Trick, by Northern Dancer
(400,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Peter Anastasiou (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €171,420. Lifetime Record: 11-7-1-2, €589,850. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zarak (Fr), 128, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Zarkava (Ire), by Zamindar. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. €68,580.
3–Silverwave (Ire), 128, h, 5, Silver Frost (Ire)–Miss Bio (Fr), by River Mist. (€60,000 RNA Ylg '13 ARQOCT; €420,000 2yo '14 ARQNOV). O-HSpirit; B-Mlle Marie-Laure Collet, Jean Collet & Mme Marylene Collet (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €34,290.
Margins: SNK, 3/4, HD. Odds: 1.20, 2.40, 8.40.
Also Ran: Erupt (Ire), Hawkbill, Guignol (Ger), Potemkin (Ger). Scratched: Maniaco (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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