Storm the Bastille

Tuesday's G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp sees Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's busy sophomore Storm the Stars (Sea the Stars {Ire}) lead the overseas assault on the Bastille Day feature, with no sign yet that an arduous run of races has taken its toll. Having his seventh start of the season here and third consecutively at this level after finishing third in the June 6 G1 Epsom Derby and second in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh three weeks later, the bay has no Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) or Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) to worry about this time and trainer William Haggas has no fears that he is feeling the effects of a heavy campaign. “He thrives on his racing–that's why he's running,” he said. “It's very unlike me to run a horse six times in a season, never mind in a couple of months, but with each race he has improved and I hope he can do the same again. This was never on the agenda, but he came out of the Irish Derby very well and the owner put the idea in my mind–I hope it pays off for him.” Successful on a record 13 occasions and in five of the last nine renewals of this, Andre Fabre has meticulously readied the unbeaten Ampere (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) for the latest edition and Haras de Saint Pair's homebred still looked raw when taking the G2 Prix Hocquart over 11 furlongs here May 10. Also representing the home team and similarly boasting a perfect record is the Niarchos Family's Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has taken gentle steps to these heights by winning the Listed Coupe des Trois Ans at Lyon-Parilly May 7 and G3 Prix du Lys at Chantilly June 14 both over this trip. Aidan O'Brien relies on the unexposed Archangel Raphael (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who sports first-time blinkers after his win on his 3-year-old bow in a Fairyhouse conditions race over this trip nine days ago. “He has just had the one run this year in a three-runner race at Fairyhouse which he won well,” O'Brien said. “The step up to a mile and a half did not give him any problems. He is a horse that has been progressing well at home.” British interests are strong, with Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd's June 19 G2 King Edward VII S. winner Balios (Ire) (Shamardal) also holding major claims on that Royal Ascot win. Trainer David Simcock said, “It's a very tight, competitive field and we're looking forward to running him. This was the obvious race to go for. He's a Group 2 winner now so we need to step him up. He handles fast ground well and we'll see how he goes.”