Maltese Cross given more big race targets by Haggas

William Haggas will now deliberate over a St Leger tilt or a return to ParisLongchamp for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Maltese Cross following his last-gasp triumph in the Grand Prix de Paris.

There was a thrilling finish in the French capital as Tom Marquand successfully threaded the eye of a needle in the dying strides aboard the Derby runner-up, seeing the son of Sea The Stars regain the winning thread in the final three-year-old only Group One of the season over a mile and a half.

Maltese Cross’ victorious cross-Channel expedition saw him become Paddy Power’s 3-1 favourite for the final Classic of the year at Doncaster on September 12, but the Somerville Lodge team will also weigh up a shot at Europe’s richest middle-distance prize back in France on October 4.

Haggas told the Press Association: “It was terrific to see him win. It was an interesting race and not a comfortable watch but it was OK in the end and he got there just in time, so I’m delighted.

“He’s an interesting horse as he just keeps winning. He’s really good and is going the right way.

“The two races for him clearly are the St Leger and the Arc, that’s the long and short of it and at the moment I don’t know which one it will be, but we’ll give them both some thought.”

Maltese Cross carries the colours of Hollywood film producer George Waud, who has so far embraced every step of his journey with a colt purchased by the trainer’s son Sam Haggas for 350,000 guineas as a yearling and has already given his team three victories to savour this term, alongside his Epsom exploits.

Fittingly for Skipton-born Haggas, it appears the next step of the three-year-old’s campaign will take place in Yorkshire no matter which direction connections decide to take, with York’s Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes seen as the likely spot to tee-up an Arc bid, while a pivot towards the St Leger would see Maltese Cross head straight to Town Moor.

Haggas added: “We’ve got bags of time to discuss and decide what we’re going to do and I’ve not a clue which way we’ll go at this stage. I think he will stay the St Leger trip, but last night showed me that a strong pace will suit him well and they usually go fast in the Arc.

“I guess the only problem is he loves the fast ground and although he ran well on soft ground in the Derby, I’m not sure he would want it bottomless in the Arc.

“He would need another race if he goes to the Arc, but I don’t know if we can get another race into him if he goes for the St Leger.

“I would think it would either be Great Voltigeur then Arc if we go that route, or nothing and straight to the St Leger.”