Graffard's Group 1 Haul Grows As Sibayan Wins The Preis Von Europa
Updated: September 28, 2025 at 3:12 pm
By Tom Frary
One of Francis-Henri Graffard's clutch of top-class geldings, Sibayan (Blame) delivered more Group 1 glory to the stable in Sunday's Preis von Europa at Cologne.
Sent off the 2-5 favourite for the 12-furlong feature, having mastered a pair of Group 2 tests in ParisLongchamp's Prix Maurice de Nieuil and the Grand Prix de Deauville, the Aga Khan Studs homebred was made to wait patiently by Mickael Barzalona throughout the early stages.
Swooping powerfully inside the final furlong, he surged to the line to record a 2 1/2-length success from the seasonal debutante Tiffany (Farhh), with the home team's Columbus (Oasis Dream) a nose behind in third. “On paper he was the best horse in the race and it was a bit messy early,” Barzalona said of the winner, who is in next week's Arqana Arc Sale. “Once I got in my own rhythm he picked up very well.”
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🇩🇪63. Preis von Europa
Cologne – Groupe 1 – 3 ans et plus – 2400m – 7 Pts – 155 000 €🏆 🥇Sibayan (h) (Fr) 🏇Mickael Barzalona @mickaelbarzalon
🥈Tiffany
🥉Columbus📖(Blame (Usa) – Sirrin (Ire) par Sea The Stars (Ire))
🕶️Francis-Henri Graffard… pic.twitter.com/o6pGkYkY6l
— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) September 28, 2025
Pedigree Notes
Sibayan is the second foal out of the Listed Prix Joubert and Listed Derby du Languedoc winner Sirrin (Sea The Stars), a daughter of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Sindirana (Kalanisi). The latter is also the second dam of the G3 Ballyogan Stakes winner and G1 Flying Five third Sonaiyla (Dark Angel), while the third dam Sinndiya (Pharly) is kin to Grand Lodge's four-times Group 1-winning Derby and Arc hero Sinndar. Sirrin also has an unraced three-year-old colt by Le Havre named Sirsar and a yearling filly by Too Darn Hot.