Sky Kingdom sent back to France in search of suitable opposition

It is 26 years since Saumarez used this race as a springboard to Arc glory just 15 days later, yet winning jockey Gerald Mosse remains a go-to rider for many including William Haggas, trainer of Sky Kingdom.

The depth of the challenge faced by Sky Kingdom in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville last month has since been underlined by the winner Almanzor's victory in the Irish Champion Stakes.

“Opportunities for three-year-olds only over a mile and a quarter don’t exist in England at that time of the year [mid-August], just as they don’t at this time of the year, which is why he's heading back,” said Haggas, who once again turns to Mosse for the ride.