By Tom Frary

Marseille-Borely was the venue for the first European winner in 2026 by a first-crop sire on Wednesday as Sealiway's Witchway struck in the Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois colours.

Happy to follow the strong pace under Hugo Besnier in the five-furlong maiden, the 8-5 favourite took control 300 metres from the finish and drew away in style to record a 2 1/2-length verdict over Dicanto,a colt from the first crop of Haras du Taillis's resident Dicaprio. There was another short-neck margin back to the third Body Physical, the first runner for Haras des Faunes's freshman Marianafoot.

Trained by Patrice Cottier, the winner is a homebred colt out of the Nathaniel mare Were, a granddaughter of the Argentinian champion Ishitaki (Interprete). Galiway's son Sealiway, whose finest hour came in the Champion Stakes and who also took the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, stands for €10,000.

TDN 18/03/26