Dual Group 1 winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) will miss the G1 Irish Champion S. on Longines Irish Champions Weekend and instead contest the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte at ParisLongchamp on Sept. 4, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard revealed on Thursday.
A winner of the G1 Champion S. when trained by Cedric Rossi, the chestnut has yet to find the winner's circle this term in four starts, but after an unplaced run in the G1 Saudi Cup over the winter, ran second in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt in April and dropped to third in the G1 Prix Ganay a month later. He was most recently fifth for owners Le Haras de la Gousserie & Guy Pariente in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at the end of May. His long-term goals include the Oct. 2 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and an Oct. 15 Champion S. defence.
“He's not going to Ireland, he's running on Sunday in a Group 3 over 10 furlongs,” said Graffard. “He is in very good form and it will be a good starting point for an autumn campaign of the Arc and Ascot.”
A multiple Group 1 winner who is lining up in the Irish Champion S. is the globetrotting Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). Last of 14 in the Saudi Cup, the John and Thady Gosden trainee has since run second in the G1 Coral Eclipse S. to Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) in July, third in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. later that month, and was second last out in the Aug. 17 G1 Juddmonte International S.
Prince Faisal's racing manager Ted Voute confirmed the decision to run the 5-year-old on Thursday and said, “That's the plan.”
Mishriff will face Vadeni, among others.
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