By Sean Cronin
The only blip on an otherwise perfect 2026 for George Waud's TDN Rising Star Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars) was a runner-up finish behind Christmas Day (Camelot) in the G1 Derby and he exacted revenge on the rival with a dominant performance–under a five-pound Group 1 penalty–in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
“He showed a nice turn of foot in Paris last time, he did very well today and I think that was probably a career best,” said trainer William Haggas. “I thought he came there well, Tom said he went too early, which I think he did, but he got drawn into it because Ryan [Moore aboard Christmas Day] set off.”
Looking ahead, the Newmarket-based conditioner added, “We had a conversation about the Arc when Baaeed was around and I was pretty non-committal, and I'll be the same again. I've no idea where we're going, but he clearly stays very well and the [G1] St Leger is a prestigious race in its own right, so let's not be hasty and make decisions today. All options are open. The ground in Paris is likely to be slower than today and that's a factor, and if it's dry at Doncaster that's also a factor. They're two very prestigious races. One is world renowned, but the other is very prestigious to a Yorkshire-born, English trainer and owner. That was a Group 1 performance today.”
Last month's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero was slick from the outside stall and settled several lengths off the clear leader Antigua (Camelot) in fourth after the initial strides of this stepping stone to next month's G1 St Leger.
Cruising forward in eyecatching fashion on the bridle in the straight, the 9-4 second favourite wrested control from new leader Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and stayed on strongly under forceful urging in the closing stages to outpoint that rival by two lengths.
Derby hero Christmas Day, who was also burdened with a five-pound Group 1 penalty, was far from disgraced and stayed on well to finish 2 1/4 lengths further adrift in third.
Reflecting on the performances of the second and third home, Aidan O'Brien said, “I was very happy with both horses [Pierre Bonnard and Christmas Day]. They both had a break after they ran in the Irish Derby and we knew the two of them were going to come on from it. It was a tough race and William's horse is a very classy horse, but we're delighted with ours. I would imagine they will both point towards the St Leger now, that was what we were thinking before this.”
Pedigree Notes
Maltese Cross is the third of five foals and one of two scorers out of a winning half-sister to five stakes performers headed by G1 Deutsches Derby-winning sire Nutan (Duke Of Marmalade), G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin heroine Nymphea (Dylan Thomas) and Group 3-winning G1 Prix Jean Romanet third Navaro Girl (Holy Roman Emperor).
Descendants of his Group 3-placed second dam Neele (Peintre Celebre) also include stakes-winning G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin runner-up Nerik (Ruler Of The World) and G3 Premio Del Giubileo victrix Norge (Dylan Thomas).
The winner is a half-brother to the Listed-placed Namouria (Adlerflug), the unraced two-year-old colt Prince Of Petra (Persian King) and a weanling filly by Charyn.
Penalty? NO PROBLEM ⬛️
Derby runner-up defies a 5lb penalty in the @SkyBet Great Voltigeur Stakes.
We now have a SHORT-PRICED favourite for the St Leger!@TomMarquand | @WilliamHaggas pic.twitter.com/NXEEwrdw38
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 19, 2026
Wednesday, York, Britain
SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR STAKES-G2, £250,000, York, 8-19, 3yo, c/g, 11f 188yT, 2:32.04, gd.
1–MALTESE CROSS (FR), 133, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Nabatea (Ger), by Camelot (GB)
2nd Dam: Neele (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Night Teeny (GB), by Platini (Ger)
TDN Rising Star. (€200,000 Wlg '23 ARQDEN; 350,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-George Waud; B-Ecurie du Sud & Ecurie Gribomont; T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £141,775. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & G1SP-Eng, 7-5-2-0, $1,206,653. *1/2 to Namouria (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus *. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pierre Bonnard (Ire), 128, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Sultanina (GB), by New Approach (Ire). (€80,000 Wlg '23 GOFNOF; €280,000 Ylg '24 GOFORY). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Rathasker Stud; T-Aidan O'Brien. £53,750.
3–Christmas Day (Ire), 133, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Beauly (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). (450,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg & Peter Brant; B-Framont Ltd; T-Aidan O'Brien. £26,900.
Margins: 2, 2 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 2.25, 3.33, 1.50.
Also Ran: Superior Choice (GB), Galiyan (GB), Antigua (Ire).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
