SUNDAY’S Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp is the first Group 1 of the year in Europe, and was a pipe-opener in their Arc-winning season for both Waldgeist and Sottsass. Last year’s Arc favourite Sosie (Sea The Stars) took on the hugely fancied Map Of Stars, another son of the Gilltown stallion, and they finished first and second.

Winner of the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt in April, Map Of Stars had been beaten just once in six starts, while last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe fourth Sosie was making his seasonal bow. It was the Wertheimer’s homebred Sosie who prevailed, giving André Fabre his eighth Ganay win. Sosie had gone into last year’s Arc on the back of victories in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and Group 2 Prix Niel, and he was placed in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby.