William Haggas is relishing Betfred Derby runner-up Maltese Cross’ return to action in the Cygames Grand Prix de France today.
The Sea The Stars colt only found Aidan O’Brien’s Christmas Day too much in the rain-lashed Classic at Epsom as he defied his trainer’s thoughts by handling the sudden ease in the ground.
He will face another of Ballydoyle’s top-quality conveyor belt in Causeway during the midweek Group One contest at ParisLongchamp, with Haggas also wary of Joseph O’Brien’s three-pronged attack and home trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s Varandir in the French capital.
“That’s the plan, he runs there today. We are very happy with him,” the Somerville Lodge handler said.
“We thought he had a hard race at Epsom, but he’s in good form and he’s full of the joys of summer now.
I hope he’ll be able to give a good account.
“He ran well very well indeed in the Derby.
I wasn’t sure he’d enjoy the ground because he’s such a fluent mover.
He coped with it well, I was wrong about that, he handled the ground no problem.
“I think he tries very hard and in each race he’s had there’s been an improvement on the previous one.
Taking on Aidan (O’Brien) and his son (Joseph O’Brien) and Monsieur Graffard, it won’t be a straightforward race, but it shouldn’t be either.”
Haggas also revealed the final Classic of the season at Doncaster will likely be the aim after his trip across the Channel.
“He’s the perfect St Leger type for me, he’ll stay well and I think it’s the perfect race for him,” he told Sky Sports Racing.
“I’m not the biggest fan long-term of the Leger.
I respect it’s place in the calendar and it’s a fantastic race to win, but we’ve not had much luck in the race, not that we’ve tried very hard, but he is an obvious candidate.
“Depending how we get today, that race will be firmly in our sights, I’m sure.”
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