By Tom Frary
Sent off the 1-2 favourite for Sunday's G2 Prix d'Harcourt, Wathnan Racing's progressive Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) delivered in style to provide the red-hot Francis-Henri Graffard stable with a ParisLongchamp four-timer. Waited with in fourth early, the G3 Prix Exbury winner was sent to the front approaching the furlong pole by James Doyle and forged clear of Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) to record a 2 1/2-length success.
On ground lively for the time of year, Map Of Stars produced a stunning final three-furlong split of 32.55 with two sub-11-second furlongs marking him out as a genuine Group 1 contender for the demanding term ahead. “I think we have seen a real good one today,” Graffard said. “The way he went after that horse in front and the way he quickened is the sign of a top one. He also proved that he is maturing mentally and that is essential. We will follow the program and bring him back for the G1 Prix Ganay.”
🌟 Map of Stars (J. W. Doyle – @GraffardRacing) se montre le plus fort dans le Prix d'Harcourt (Gr.2) à @paris_longchamp
🥈 Horizon Doré (P. Cottier)
🥉 Certain Lad (J. Channon) pic.twitter.com/HJ6GutiUPd— Equidia (@equidia) April 6, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Map Of Stars is the second foal out of the four-time group-winning and G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Bateel (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), whose three-year-old filly Tajlina (GB) (Kingman {GB}) captured last week's G3 Prix Penelope and is a live Classic contender. A daughter of the G2 Pretty Polly Stakes runner-up Attractive Crown (Chief's Crown), she is related to the G3 Prix Exbury winner Court Canibal (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). Bateel's colt foal is by Wootton Bassett (GB).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX D'HARCOURT-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-6, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:05.20, gd.
1–MAP OF STARS (GB), 126, c, 4, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Bateel (Ire) (G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Eng, $741,001), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Attractive Crown, by Chief's Crown
3rd Dam: Attirance (Fr), by Crowned Prince
O-Wathnan Racing; B-Al Asayl France (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-James Doyle. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-0, €202,100. *1/2 to Tajlina (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Horizon Dore (Fr), 126, g, 5, Dabirsim (Fr)–Sweet Alabama (Fr), by Enrique (GB). (€45,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Gousserie Racing, Ecurie du Sud, Ecurie Gribomont, Chantal Becq, Daniel Dumoulin & Michel Delaunay; B-Mme Chantal Becq (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €28,600.
3–Certain Lad (GB), 126, g, 9, Clodovil (Ire)–Chelsey Jayne (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (13,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT; 170,000gns RNA 3yo '19 TATAHI). O-Christopher Richard Hirst; B-Barry Walters (GB); T-Jack Channon. €13,650.
Margins: 2HF, 1, 1HF. Odds: 0.50, 3.40, 5.90.
Also Ran: Birr Castle (Fr), Daring Prince (GB).
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