Seamie Heffernan has been called in to replace suspended apprentice Joey Sheridan to ride Princess Zoe in the Prix Royal-Oak.
The five-year-old will be bidding for a sixth successive victory on Sunday for her return to ParisLongchamp but she will be without rider Sheridan, who was handed a hefty suspension for use of the whip earlier this month.
Multiple Group One-winning jockey Heffernan has been brought in and trainer Tony Mullins feels the new rider and Princess Zoe are in good shape before the weekend.
“She’s as fit as she can be,” said Mullins. “Seamie sat on her on Sunday – he was very happy with her, and we were very happy with him.
“Joey is obviously suspended, which is a shame. He got six days for too many strikes with the whip, and they doubled the penalty because it was a Group One – which is a rule I couldn’t find in any rule book anywhere. Anyway, that’s the way it goes.
“We’re very happy with the mare. All I can say is that in the back of my mind I’m thinking a two-and-a-half-mile race less than three weeks ago has to take its toll at some stage, but there is no evidence at the moment, so we’re set to go.”
