Trainer opts for Arc route with Maltese Cross as Infraad is set for Ascot contest
William Haggas has decided to take Maltese Cross out of the Betfred St Leger and instead aim the Sea The Stars colt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the first Sunday in October. The move removes one of the prominent Derby and York performers from Doncaster’s showpiece Classic and reshapes the autumn plans for Haggas’s three-year-old brigade.
Maltese Cross emerged this season as a consistent middle-distance performer. He finished runner-up in the Epsom Derby before recording a victory in the Grand Prix de Paris on the Arc course and distance. He followed that with success in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, a traditional stepping stone for Classic and international targets.
Autumn campaign and target selection
Haggas weighed up the historical significance of the St Leger, particularly in the year of the race’s 250th edition, but ultimately decided that extra time before a major autumn assignment would be preferable. With the Arc offering a prestigious long-term target over the same course and distance as his Grand Prix de Paris success, connections have opted to pursue that route.
The withdrawal from the St Leger means Maltese Cross will not line up at Doncaster, opening the Classic to other contenders and slightly altering the profile of the race. It also keeps the prospect of seeing him revisit Longchamp in October, where he would face older and potentially more established international opposition over 2,400 metres.
Infraad redirected to Ascot
Haggas confirmed that his other St Leger entry, Infraad, will also bypass Doncaster but will remain on British soil. The Melrose Stakes winner is now pencilled in for the Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot on October 2. That race will provide Infraad with a high-quality autumn assignment and an opportunity to compete at the Royal meeting venue against a likely mixture of three-year-olds and older horses.
The decision to send Infraad to Ascot ensures Haggas maintains a presence at a major UK fixture in early October while the stable’s principal staying prospect heads to France. The Noel Murless Stakes has in recent years attracted established middle-distance performers and is a logical contest for a lightly raced colt stepping into a strong end-of-season scenario.
Implications for the Classics and international programme
- The removal of Maltese Cross from the St Leger substantially alters the composition of the field at Doncaster, making the Classic more open for other challengers.
- A tilt at the Arc represents a significant international commitment from Haggas, reflecting confidence in Maltese Cross’s ability to handle the course and strong opposition.
- Infraad’s switch to Ascot preserves Haggas’s representation at a premier UK fixture and keeps options open for future targets depending on performance.
Haggas’s choices underline the balancing act trainers perform when mapping campaigns for top-class three-year-olds: weighing the historical prestige of Britain’s remaining Classics against the appeal and timing of major international races. With Maltese Cross set for Longchamp and Infraad to contest the Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot, the Haggas stable will be on show at prominent autumn meetings both at home and abroad.
