Well-bred Map Of Stars plots an easy route in Chantilly Listed race

His mother loved these conditions and won a moist Group 1 at this track. His sire also had a penchant for Paris and was at his brilliant best in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October at three. Put them together and little wonder their son, our handsome three-year-old Map Of Stars, should excel at Chantilly in the autumn.

The Grand Prix du Nord isn’t in quite the same league as the big races claimed by his parents, but it still takes a good one to win it. Map Of Stars had taken all his first three races before joining the Wathnan stable a couple of months ago. Upgraded, and a little overwhelmed, when fourth in a spicy Group 3 event last time, he returned to form here, winning with a considerable amount in hand. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee loomed up menacingly as the runners entered for straight and was by no means fully extended to draw clear by the line. He remains a young horse with a big future, and his pedigree is a strong indicator that a mile-and-a-half will suit him even better than the 10f of this Listed event.

Meanwhile, on a busy Saturday for our peacock blue and old gold colours, Hamad Al-Jehani’s runners at Doncaster both ran with distinction – without winning. In a big sprint handicap, Solar Aclaim finished third, enjoying the underfoot conditions but not quite matching his rivals’ finishing zip. Half an hour earlier – in the Doncaster Stakes, a race won by our Ballymount Boy a year ago – Diego Ventura just failed to peg back longtime leader La Bellota, but made a great effort to get as close as he did. Like Map Of Stars, he goes into winter quarters with much to look forward to in 2025.