Sea the Stars's Cloth of Stars Wins the d'Harcourt

Building on his taking return success in the G3 Prix Exbury over this trip at Saint-Cloud Mar. 19, Cloth of Stars crept closer to the group 1 that has so far evaded him with jockey Mickael Barzalona keen to show off his mount's inherent class. Runner-up in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November 2015, the bay returned to win the G3 Prix la Force and G2 Prix Greffulhe over this track and trip last April and May only to finish eighth under positive tactics in the G1 Epsom Derby in June. More patiently-ridden when third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over 12 furlongs back at Saint-Cloud the next month, he had missed the remainder of the season but re-emerged in the Exbury looking to have benefitted from the break. Anchored with three behind early here, he had over three lengths to make up at the top of the straight but was delivered wide with confidence under hand riding as Mekhtaal threatened to get away. Given two smacks with the whip late on, he overhauled that rival in the final metres to join his G3 Prix la Force-winning stablemate Graphite (Fr) (Shamardal) in setting a new track record. “He got the good pace he needs again and has two options now,” Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said. “One is the [G1] Prix Ganay [at Saint-Cloud May 1] and the other is the [G1] Queen Elizabeth II Cup [at Sha Tin Apr. 30].”

Cloth of Stars is out of a full-sister to the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Light Shift (Kingmambo) and a half to the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup-winning champion Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector), whose daughter That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality) was the recent winner of the Listed Prix Zarkava. She is one of the up-and-comers from this family alongside the Stoute trainee Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who captured the G3 Gordon S. last term. This Niarchos dynasty is always capable of turning up new champions, as proven by the rise and rise of Main Sequence (Aldebaran) during his groundbreaking campaign in 2014. Strawberry Fledge also has 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.

Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX D'HARCOURT-G2, €130,000, CHY, 4-9, 4yo/up, 10fT, 1:58.77 (NTR), gd.
1–CLOTH OF STARS (IRE), 126, 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 TAOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Peter Anastasiou (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 10-6-1-2, €418,430. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mekhtaal (GB), 126, c, 4, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk. (€300,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Haras du Mezeray & Skymarc Farm (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €28,600.
3–Maniaco (GB), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Plumania (GB), by Anabaa. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: NK, 1HF, NK. Odds: 0.90, 7.00, 20.90.
Also Ran: Robin of Navan (Fr), Palace Prince (Ger), Best Fouad (Fr), One Foot In Heaven (Ire), Cafe Royal (Ger), Raseed (GB), Star Victory (Fr), Gambissara (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.