St Mark’s Basilica’s First Foal is a Colt

The first foal by European Champion 2-year-old and World Champion 3-year-old St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was born at Kiltinan Stud in Fethard, Co Tipperary, Ireland on Jan. 9. The colt is out of Vital Force (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and owned by the John Ferguson-headed Natalma Bloodstock.

Vital Force is a half-sister to Godolphin's G2 Coventry S. winner Buratino (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and from the immediate family of Danehill Dancer.

“He's a good first foal with a good frame to fill into and a confident temperament,” Kiltinan manager Donna Vowles said.

St Mark's Basilica won six of nine starts and earned £2,196,080. He is a five-time group 1 winner, including the Irish Champion S., Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Coral Eclipse S. He stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland for a fee of €65,000.

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Sealiway Joins Graffard

G1 Champion S. winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), whose trainer Cedric Rossi was indicted by French police last week for equine doping and fraud, will join trainer Francis Graffard. Sealiway is among 200 horses on their way to new yards after Rossi and family members Charley and Frederic Rossi and Jessica Marcialis, as well as a stable manager and veterinarian, were forbidden by police to participate in racing or be on the grounds of a racetrack or training centre during the indictment, which could last as long as a year.

Raced by the Chehboub family's Haras de la Gousserie in partnership with breeder Guy Pariente, Sealiway was trained by Frederic Rossi when he won last year's G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere and when second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in June. Transfered to Cedric Rossi in August, Sealiway was a good fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe off a layoff before winning Ascot's Champion S. The G1 Saudi Cup has been cited as an early season target for Sealiway's 4-year-old campaign.

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Sealiway To Target Saudi Cup

Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) will begin what connections hope is the start of a “big international campaign” in the US$20-million G1 Saudi Cup on Feb. 26.

It will mean a switch to dirt for the last-out G1 QIPCO Champion S. winner–trained by Cedric Rossi–but with the race elevated to Group 1 status in just its second year and maintaining its position as the most valuable in the world, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

A top-level winner as a juvenile, Sealiway finished second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and returned from a mid-season break to claim a fine fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe before his famous success at Ascot.

He is owned by Guy Pariente and the Chehboub family under the guise of their stud, Haras de le Gousserie, and racing manager Pauline Chehboub said: “He had a brilliant season, just as we hoped.

“It was a great run behind St Mark's Basilica in the Prix du Jockey Club, and he then ran a nice race in the Arc before that huge performance in the Champion S. We always believed he was a top-class horse, and he showed his talent at Ascot. The best is yet to come with him.

“It wasn't a surprise for us [winning at Ascot], he was in very good form after the Arc. He was the best 2-year-old in France after his win in the Lagardere and he proved after Ascot that he was the best 3-year-old. It was a crazy day, very emotional. We were so pleased with him, he's very special.”

Following the Ascot win. the international races at Hong Kong had been mooted but it was decided that the Saudi race was a better fit.

“It wasn't easy to say no to Hong Kong,” said Chehboub.

“He improved a lot on Champions Day and came out of the race very well. We all looked at the programme book with my father and co-owner and breeder Guy Pariente, and we thought the Saudi Cup was a good target.

“We are planning a big international campaign,” she added.

“We're not sure exactly where yet but there is the Arc in October and I'm sure we'll be going back to Ascot at some point. The first thing is Saudi, we'll make a plan after that. We think 2022 is going to be a very big year for Sealiway.”

It is always a big task for top-class turf horses to prove as effective on a dirt surface but last year's winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) showed it can be done.

“Sealiway works on the sand in the mornings and he's very impressive on it,” said Chehboub. “We think it will suit him well, we don't think it will be a problem. He is a very flexible horse. He has a lot of speed and we saw in the Arc that he can stay. We are confident he can adapt to different distances and tracks.

“We love a challenge. It's very exciting to be a part of a race like the Saudi Cup and to meet all those great horses from America and Japan. Mishriff won it this year and he's one of the best horses on turf in Europe, so it shows that it's possible.”

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Foundation Date For Addeybb

Multiple Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) will forego entries at Ayr and Newbury this weekend and instead target next Wednesday's Listed Foundation S. at Goodwood, where rainfall is expected. The 7-year-old gelding with an affinity for soft ground has not been seen since finishing second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})-and ahead of world co-top rated Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB})-in the G1 Eclipse S. on July 3. Addeybb is on course for a title defense of the G1 Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 16.

“The ground wasn't soft enough for Addeybb this weekend but he needs a run, so we've put him in at Goodwood on Wednesday,” said trainer William Haggas. “He'll almost nearly have to run there, but I didn't want to flog him up to Ayr when the forecast I saw said the rain, which they thought was coming on Friday, has dissipated now. It's a shame, but Goodwood will be fine, hopefully. They are due some rain at the weekend and I'm hoping they get plenty.”

Haggas also issued an update on Shadwell's unbeaten star 3-year-old Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sept. 5.

“Baaeed is in good shape and aiming for the QEII,” said Haggas. “We're planning to run at Ascot, but if it's bottomless we may have to think again. He's been fine since the race and I think that race will have done him good and I'm happy with him.”

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