Stars goes down fighting at Auteuil Thousand Stars had to settle for second in the Grade Two Gras Savoye Hipcover Prix La Barka at Auteuil. Willie Mullins had a strong hand in the extended two mile five furlong contest with Final Approach and Dorset Square joining his smart hurdler in the line-up whilst compatriot Berties Dream and English trainer Nick Williams' Zaynar were amongst their rivals. Zaynar had raced prominently and the grey was still in a group of ten that pulled clear approaching the second last but he weakened out of contention and could only finish seventh. Thousand Stars and stablemate Final Approach moved up menacingly on either side of Roi Du Val at the last but the nine year old kept finding and ran on well with the rail to help. Final Approach was the first of the Mullins pair to wilt and he faded to finish a fine sixth but Thousand Stars kept finding under Ruby Walsh and for a stride or two looked like he might get up but the pair had to settle for a gallant second. Mullins said: "Thousand Stars ran another very good race. He was as game as ever and stayed on all the way to the line. "He might have earned himself a tilt at the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil next month (French Champion Hurdle). I think he deserves a go at it. "We'll think about next season later on. He could go chasing but he might earn more money just staying over hurdles, so we'll see. "Final Approach jumped very well for his first time over the French hurdles and I need to talk to the owner and see if he wants him to come back to France as well. "Dorset Square just didn't handle the jumps at all. He was too slow and careful at his hurdles, so we'll get him home." Later on the card, Edward O'Grady's Triumph Hurdle sixth Sailors Warn could only finish seventh behind the odds-on favourite Ceasar's Palace in the Grade Three Prix De Longchamp Hurdle.
