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.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.Pedigree NotesMaltese 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, 2026The post Grand Prix de Paris Hero Maltese Cross Overpowers Great Voltigeur Field at York appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.