Maltese Cross lunges late to claim Grand Prix de Paris title Derby runner-up Maltese Cross somehow defied bad luck in running to provide William Haggas with his first victory in the Grand Prix de Paris. Tom Marquand remained patient during a race which saw the son of Sea The Stars repeatedly hit dead ends, and it looked as though his race had been run as Charlie Johnston’s Ancient Egypt hit the front after Causeway’s front-running effort petered out. Ancient Egypt continued to stride on passing the three-furlong pole and Causeway’s fading challenge appeared to hinder Maltese Cross, who had to switch off the inside rail. He was boxed in as the leader committed for home, but once the gap came he showed an impressive turn of foot saw him squeeze through a gap and head Ancient Egypt in the final strides, meaning it was a British one-two in the Bastille Day Group One. Strong Will to Win Shines Through The winning trainer’s wife and assistant, Maureen Haggas, said: “I thought he did unbelievably well to win the race from a fairly difficult position and he had a horse on his outside who was trying like hell to keep him in. “But he does like something to aim at and he will squirm through a little hole, which he had to do today. “He’s tough and obviously got a really strong will to win, which is one of his greatest attributes. You need that will to win and you need a good horse to get themselves out of that type of trouble.” The victory marked the first British success in this race since Hurricane Lane struck gold for Charlie Appleby in 2021. Having seen the colt finish best of the rest behind Christmas Day in the premier Classic at Epsom last month, Haggas was pleased to see Maltese Cross have his day in the sun on the big stage. She added: “In a lot of ways, apart from the fact he won which was obviously the best thing, there are lots other things that were really pleasing and we always felt that the best was yet to come. “He’s going to be, hopefully, a really nice four-year-old. So for him to win a Group One today was fantastic.” Hollywood Owner Savours Group One Moment Maltese Cross carries the colours of Hollywood producer and director George Waud, who was understandably elated. He said: “That horse just time and time again delivers, and he delivers because he’s got all the ability, but he’s also got such a good brain. “I could see Tom stuck on the rail there trying to figure out how he was going to get out and Maltese Cross made the space for him – he knew what was going on and he made the space, and boy did he come quick at the end. Wow! “Finishing second in the Derby was one of the best days of my life and winning a Group One is comparable. “The most disappointing thing about not winning the Derby was that I couldn’t give Sam Haggas, who is William and Maureen’s son and my bloodstock agent, that moment. For his parents to have their son pull off something like that would have been amazing.” Johnston Rues Another Agonising Defeat Johnston was proud of Ancient Egypt as he suffered another narrow defeat after going down by a neck to Causeway in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. “Above anything else, I’m proud of the horse. Once again he was completely underestimated and overlooked and the outsider of the field,” he said. “The fact that Causeway was 9-4 and we were 16-1, I think that’s a lack of respect for this horse and how good he is, and he nearly showed them all, just getting caught in the last stride. “It was a fantastic run, I’m very proud of him. He showed himself very much a Group One performer.”
