Storm the Stars heads Grand Prix de Paris

Tuesday's Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) at Longchamp sees Storm the Stars (Sea

the Stars) lead the overseas assault on the Bastille Day feature, with no sign

yet that an arduous run of races has taken its toll.

Having his seventh start of the season here and third consecutively at this

level after finishing third in the June 6 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) and second in the

Irish equivalent (Ire-G1) at The Curragh three weeks later, the bay has no

Golden Horn (Cape Cross) or Jack Hobbs (Halling) to worry about this time and

trainer William Haggas has no fears that he is feeling the effects of a heavy

campaign.

"He thrives on his racing -- that's why he's running," he said. "It's very

unlike me to run a horse six times in a season, never mind in a couple of

months, but with each race he has improved and I hope he can do the same again.

This was never on the agenda, but he came out of the Irish Derby very well and

the owner put the idea in my mind -- I hope it pays off for him."

Successful on a record 13 occasions and in five of the last nine renewals of

this, Andre Fabre has meticulously readied the unbeaten Ampere (Galileo) for the

latest edition and the colt still looked raw when taking the Prix Hocquart

(Fr-G2) over 11 furlongs May 10.

Also representing the home team and similarly boasting a perfect record is

the Erupt (Dubawi), who has taken gentle steps to these heights by winning the

Coupe des Trois Ans at Lyon-Parilly and Prix du Lys (Fr-G3) at Chantilly, both

over this 1 1/2-mile trip.

Aidan O'Brien relies on the unexposed Archangel Raphael (Montjeu), who sports

first-time blinkers after his win on his three-year-old bow in a Fairyhouse

conditions race over this trip nine days ago.

"He has just had the one run this year in a three-runner race at Fairyhouse

which he won well," O'Brien said. "The step up to a mile and a half did not give

him any problems. He is a horse that has been progressing well at home."

British interests are strong, with King Edward VII S. (Eng-G2) winner Balios

(Shamardal) also holding major claims on that Royal Ascot win.

"It's a very tight, competitive field and we're looking forward to running

him," trainer David Simcock said. "This was the obvious race to go for. He's a

Group 2 winner now so we need to step him up. He handles fast ground well and

we'll see how he goes."

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