Map Of Stars leads the Royal Ascot charge for Wathnan Racing

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And….we’re off! The valiant Map Of Stars got Royal Ascot off to a successful start for Wathnan Racing when winning the Listed Wolferton Stakes on the opening day of the meeting under jockey James McDonald.

Relishing the fast ground, the five-year-old produced a withering burst of speed down the centre of the track to reel in Wimbledon Hawkeye, prevailing by half a length at the line to become the first French-trained winner of the Wolferton.

Runner-up in last year’s G1 Prix Ganay for France’s champion trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, Map Of Stars was subsequently fourth behind Ombudsman in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

His delighted trainer said, “It was fantastic. The horse travelled well and was really relaxed and, when he’s like that, he has an amazing turn of foot.

“I said to Richard Brown, ‘I have a lovely Listed race in the middle of France if you want to bring him back into the winner’s enclosure,’ and he said, ‘No chance, you’re coming to Ascot.’ I think he was right!”

Graffard added, “I am happy for James as well. It’s really nice to team up with a legendary jockey like him and he rode him perfectly.”

James McDonald, who rode Wathnan’s Crimson Advocate to glory in last year’s G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes, said, “Map Of Stars is obviously a very good horse and was well suited by that sort of race. It worked out really well. He was very sleepy early and then came alive when I wanted him to. It’s a very special win. He gave me an exceptional feeling and just kept building.”

Haatem, the winner of last year’s Wolferton Stakes, who had been sent off as joint-favourite to repeat that success, was short of room when attempting to make his challenge in the final furlongs and was frustratingly never able to get a clear run.