Ad Valorem heads Jean Prat

Ad Valorem is in a position to pick up the mantle formerly held by Shamardal in Sunday's Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, a Group 1, $480,000 contest.

Second by three lengths to Shamardal in the one-mile St. James's Palace Stakes, Ad Valorem won the six-furlong Group 1 Middle Park Stakes last fall. With the Jean Prat reduced in distance this year from 1 1/8 miles to one mile, he is in position to become Europe's leading 3-year-old miler, now that both Shamardal and the 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand are retired.

Challenging will be the Group 3 Prix de la Jonchere winner Turtle Bowl, as well as Helios Quercus, who is attempting to bounce back from a sixth-place finish in the French 2000 Guineas.

* The 1 1/2-mile, $480,000 German Derby at Hamburg on Sunday will see a clash of Arcadio, the 15-length winner of the Group 3 Bavarian Classic; the undefeated Konigstiger; and Scorpion, who is being wheeled right back after his gallant half-length second to Hurricane Run in last Sunday's Irish Derby.