Superb Sealiway Proves Best in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

Trainer Frederic Rossi continued his season of seasons as Sealiway powered eight lengths clear of his toiling rivals to record an emphatic success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium, G1) under Mickael Barzalona. 

Rossi landed a first group 1 success after 20 years of training when Dream And Do landed the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) in June, and now Sealiway heads into the winter as France's leading candidate to take the colts' equivalent next spring. 

In the absence of the Aidan O'Brien-trained St Mark's Basilica, Nando Parrado went off the warm favorite, but he could only stay on at the one pace to hold Law of Indices for second, seemingly not handling the cloying ground with the race over as a meaningful contest a long time before the line.

Bookmakers reacted afterward with Paddy Power and Betfair making Sealiway a 10-1 chance for next year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1). 

Rossi said: "Wow! I've always thought he was a really good horse, and he ran over too short a trip to begin with. We decided to ride him more positively. He loves to dominate, and you have to ride him more in the English style than the French. He doesn't sprint, he's a real steamroller. 

"Before today he has never quite run the way he trained, and I told the jockey I was pretty confident that if he could just do what he does in the mornings, the race would be over as a contest." 

Rossi said he was never deterred from aiming at the Lagardere, despite having seen Sealiway run down close home in his prep race.

"We didn't say too much because I didn't want people to say he's not as good as they think. But we just needed to make a few adjustments, and today Mika has found the right buttons to push." 

Rossi had suffered the disappointment of seeing Alkuin caught late by Princess Zoe in the Prix du Cadran (G1) Saturday, but all that pain is now forgotten. 

Rossi said: "It would have been wonderful to win two group 1s over Arc weekend, and the first 15 minutes after the Cadran were very hard having been beaten by so little. But this is magnificent."

The Ken Condon-trained Law of Indices looked a threat as he shot through when the cutaway rail opened up turning for home but had no answer to the winner's sustained power. However, connections were thrilled with the performance

"I'm very happy," said jockey Billy Lee. "He traveled lovely around. … I'm thrilled with the run."