Sosie holds off Map of Stars to take Prix Ganay in 2025 debut
Sosie, a two-time group stakes winner last year but fourth as the favorite in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October, won his first start of 2025 in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.
Sosie, ridden by Maxime Guyon, closed from fourth of six to win by a neck over Map of Stars, the 6-5 favorite. Sosie, who paid $7, won for the fifth time in his eighth start.
Map of Stars closed well with a wide rally to just miss winning his third consecutive group stakes this year. The $340,900 Prix Ganay at 1 5/16 miles was his first career start in a Group 1.
The first two finishers performed in a manner to suggest they will be important runners in major stakes in coming months.
Map of Stars finished two lengths clear of Royal Rhyme, a Group 3 stakes winner in Britain last year who had his first start on Sunday since a third-place finish in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot last October.
Sosie, a 4-year-old colt by Sea the Stars, races for owners and breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer and trainer Andre Fabre. Third in the Group 1 French Derby last June, Sosie won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris for 3-year-old colts and fillies at 1 1/2 miles at Longchamp last July.
In the Arc, Sosie was beaten 4 1/4 lengths as the 7-2 favorite on very soft turf. The going on Sunday was listed as good-to-soft, a type of surface on which Sosie has excelled.
Sosie is a candidate for Group 1 stakes at distances ranging from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles in Britain and France in coming months. The Arc on Oct. 5 is a long-range goal.
In the race prior to the Prix Ganay, Aventure, second in the Arc last October, won the Group 3 Prix Allez France at 1 1/4 miles for fillies and mares in her first start of the year.
Aventure races for the Wertheimers and is trained by Christophe Ferland. A 4-year-old filly by Sea the Stars, Aventure has won 4 of 9 starts.
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