Almanzor on target for Irish Champion French Derby winner Almanzor is on course for the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 10. The Jean Claude-Rouget-trained colt will bring an exciting dimension to the Group One over a mile and a quarter after connections confirmed a trip to Ireland was firmly on his radar. Almanzor warmed up for the Irish Champion Stakes with a one-length defeat of Zarak in the Group Two Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville on August 15. Sylvain Vidal, racing manager for joint-owner Gerard Augustin-Normand, said: "Everything has gone very well after Deauville - he's perfect, in fact. "We hope to keep him very well and send him to Ireland next time. "That is the plan and it is very exciting."
