Dubai: Cloth Of Stars has emerged as an exciting prospect for Team Godolphin after recording a notable victory in the Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud, France, Europe’s first Group 1 contest of the season.
Partnered by Mickael Barzalona, the four-year-old Sea The Stars’ colt hinted at better things to come when gallantly staving off the high-class Zarak, the mount of Christophe Soumillon, to win the mile and a half contest by a short-neck.
This was Cloth Of Stars sixth career Group victory, and third on the bounce.
Godolphin’s second runner, the Charlie Appleby-trained Hawkbill, was a respectable fifth for William Buick.
Trained in France by Andre Fabre, Cloth Of Stars holds entries for the Coronation Cup at Epson on June 2 and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 21, both prestigious Group 1 races.
However, Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard, did not elucidate on stable plans.
“Andre has always felt that Cloth Of Stars has the stamina for a mile and a half and the horse will certainly race again over that distance — the question is whether it will be now or in the autumn,” she told the stable’s website.
“We will have to see how Cloth Of Stars comes out of this race and then make a decision about where to go next.
“The overall feeling is one of relief. Cloth Of Stars is an accomplished horse, but can make things a bit complicated.
“He was a bit keen and then had to dig deep at the finish, but he always seems to find a bit more,” she added.
“We are delighted that he has won his first Group 1. He has plenty of class and there are lots of options for him.”
Godolphin have previously won the Coronation Cup with Daylami (1999) and Mutafaweq (2001), while they have scored four victories in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes with Dubai Millennium (2000), Fantastic Light (301), Grandera (2002) and Rewilding (2011).
