Rougir Flies the Flag for Chehboub Family at BC

QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) hero Sealiway  will not be heading to the Breeders' Cup but Haras de la Gousserie's dual group 1 winner could run in Hong Kong and his owners are looking forward to an ambitious program in 2022.

His stablemate Rougir  will be heading to California to fly the flag for trainer Cedric Rossi and the Chehboub family, where she will be among the favorites for the Nov. 6 $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).

"Sealiway has been in great form since Ascot and so in terms of running again this year, there are no concerns," said co-owner Pauline Chehboub. "There's the complexity of traveling to Hong Kong to consider and so it's far from sure he'll take up his entry there.

"Next year he'll have a long campaign and we have great ambitions for him. There are a lot of races he can run in and we're keen to do the right thing by him so it will be Hong Kong or nothing."

Sealiway became the owners' first Breeders' Cup runner when finishing fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T) at Keeneland and the team will travel with great hopes of eclipsing that result when Rougir lines up off the back of a scintillating victory in the Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1). Maxime Guyon will be aboard again.

While the pre-entries feature a stack of proven European group 1 performers, Tarnawa , Teona , and Love  all have the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) as their first preference.

Their likely defection would still leave defending champion Audarya, crack Japanese mare Loves Only You , and the Bill Mott-trained War Like Goddess  as serious threats.

Chehboub said: "Rougir's run well numerous times this season and has now achieved her objective in winning at group 1 level. She's come out of the Opera in great form so this is the logical race for her."

The Filly & Mare Turf will be over half a furlong further than Rougir has yet tackled but Chehboub believes the set up of racing in the United States will more than compensate for the extra distance.

"We're not worried about the slightly longer trip because Rougir's main requirement is to have a good pace to run at and so American racing should suit her," she added.

"The Diane was over 2,100 meters (10.5 furlongs) and she was doing her best work at the end in a race where they didn't really go fast enough for her."

Rougir came from near-last turning in at ParisLongchamp to catch Grand Glory  over 1 1/4 miles.

La Gousserie's yellow and green silks have also been carried with distinction by Skazino—most recently when a brave second to Scope in the Oct. 24 Prix Royal-Oak (G1)—this year and travel could be on his agenda as well in the new year.

Chehboub said: "He's had a busy season so he'll have a break but we have international targets in mind for him, perhaps the Dubai Gold Cup and/or the stayers' race in Saudi Arabia."