Eclipse winner Hawkbill faces tough French challenge

Prix Ganay (Group 1) 1m2½f | 4yo+ | ATR

It speaks volumes for the Ganay's traditional place at the start of the European calendar that, in a line-up which boasts five individual Group 1 winners, bookmakers are siding with two runners who have yet to taste success at that level.

Zarak and Cloth Of Stars have race fitness on their side but it is the returning Hawkbill who grabs the attention.

In three starts after his battling defeat of The Gurkha in July's Coral-Eclipse, Godolphin's son of Kitten's Joy was some way below the form of that performance but he has the physique to do well this year.

Godolphin's other challenger Cloth Of Stars looked ready to graduate to this level when defeating Mektahl and the reopposing Maniaco in the Prix d'Harcourt at the start of the month. He had the benefit of an easy success at Saint-Cloud in his legs that day but remains open to further improvement.

Zarak twice came off second best to the mighty Almanzor at three and had to wait until his four-year-old debut in the Dubai Millennium Stakes before landing a first Group prize. He then finished fourth in the Dubai Duty Free but connections feel he was below his best on that occasion.

Erupt and Silverwave have Group 1-winning form over a mile and a half but those closest to both horses have long believed their charges are capable of going well at this intermediate distance.

Silverwave hasn't raced since running down the field in the Hong Kong Vase but was given a public blowout at Saint-Cloud by Pascal Bary at the start of the month

What they say

Alain de Royer-Dupre, trainer of Zarak
I'm happy with his preparation and he seems better than he was before his last race. There is rain forecast but it won't bother him either way

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Hawkbill
He did very well in Dubai over the winter. He goes into the Ganay fresh and well, and it looks like he should get conditions to suit. If he brings his A-game he should be very competitive

Andre Fabre, trainer of Cloth Of Stars
He has had an ideal preparation, winning the two lead-up races. He's in great form and goes on any ground. He needs to make the step up into Group 1 company now.

Andreas Wohler, trainer of Potemkin
He's very well and I've been happy with him over the winter. It's his first run back and he's a Group 1 winner now, so there are not many options to start the year off. I wouldn't like it too soft for him because he didn't enjoy it in Rome when he won there.

Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos Family, owners of Erupt
He's had a nice break since Japan. We've never been worried about dropping him back in trip and we'll learn a lot. This is the only place to start with him and it is a competitive race, but Francis Graffard and Stephane Pasquier have been very happy with him.

Jean-Pierre Carvalho, trainer of Guignol
He's better over 2,400 metres [a mile and a half] but he has the speed to be competitive at 2,100 metres. We hadn't planned on running him this early in the year but he's in good form, so it's a chance to give him a run. I expect it to be difficult against specialists at this trip like Zarak and Cloth Of Stars, though he could surprise a few of them.