Black-Type Analysis: Map Of Stars Seeks Group 1 Breakthrough in Prix Ganay

[Wandering Eyes]

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, PRIX GANAY-G1, €300,000, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT

Field: Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Higher Leaves (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}).

TDN Verdict: After straightforward wins in the G3 Prix Exbury and G2 Prix d'Harcourt, Map Of Stars goes for gold here with momentum on his side and a profile that begs a Group 1 win. First time up, last year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Sosie and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Al Riffa are surely vulnerable and so it is up to Wathnan Racing's progressive performer to get the blood stirring in the first big stand-off between the elite older horses. [Tom Frary]

Sunday, Krefeld, Germany, post time: 12:50, GROSSER PREIS DER WOHNSTATTE KREFELD – DR BUSCH-MEMORIAL-G3, €55,000, 3yo, 8 1/2fT

Field: Eternal Elixir (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Franklin Al Gunay (Karakontie {Jpn}), Katsumoto (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), Mon Schatzi (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}), Namaron (Ger) (Amaron {GB}), Name Lord (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}), Next Mine (Ger) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Rekabet (Ger) (Ito {Ger}) and Turlow (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Archie Watson sends across Eternal Elixir, who on the form of his third in last year's Listed Ascendant Stakes sets the standard, but watch out for Eckhard Sauren's Next Mine, a relative of the 2002 G1 Deutsches Derby hero Next Desert (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}) and other domestic luminaries who shouted his potential with a 7 1/2-length debut win at Munich in November. [Tom Frary]

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 14:33, PRIX DE BARBEVILLE-G3, €80,000, 4yo/up, 15fT

Field: Bel Et Bien (Fr) (Hunter's Light {Ire}), Kliff Bere (Fr) (Whitecliffsofdover), Presage Nocturne (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Candelari (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Chess (Fr) (Fas {Ire}), Annabel's Ghost (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}) and Internaute (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: France's stayers continue to sort their pecking order, with the intriguing Aga Khan Studs homebred Candelari looking to translate his abundant promise into Pattern-race prowess. The way he brushed aside the dual G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Double Major (Ire) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) at Chantilly in March suggests he is already there, but the Wertheimers' Internaute is a total unknown quantity at this trip and as a son of the Arc heroine Solemia (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}) it's not hard to envisage him making his mark in this category. [Tom Frary]

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 15:50, PRIX ALLEZ FRANCE-G3, €80,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT

Field: Rose Jaipur (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}), Galaxie Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Waldora (Fr) (Waldgeist {GB}), Le Combat Continue (Fr) (De Treville {GB}), Grand Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Mme Jourdain (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Euboa (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Zuna (Fr) (Kizuna {Jpn}).

TDN Verdict: This sees the welcome return of Europe's second-best middle-distance filly of 2024 in the Wertheimers' Aventure, who would only be vulnerable if too rusty over a trip probably short of her optimum. The impressive Listed Prix Solitude winner Grand Stars may benefit if that is the case. [Tom Frary]

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 13:58, PRIX DE L'AVRE-Listed, €55,000, 3yo, 12fT

Field: Surabad (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Azou (Fr) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}), Military Air (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Golden Weaver (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Killary King (Fr) (Hunter's Light {Ire}) and Croquis (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Representing the powerful Aga Khan's Studs-Graffard connection, Surabad took a leap forward sent over this trip at Saint-Cloud last month and appeals as a type that could end up featuring in the course-and-distance G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Another by a sprinter sire, the Wertheimers' Croquis did what he was expected to over this trip at Lyon-Parilly 11 days ago and this will tell us more, while another maiden winner with promise is the Lyon-la-Soie graduate Golden Weaver. [Tom Frary]

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