Mickael Barzalona has been appointed first jockey for the French-trained horses of the Aga Khan Studs from January 2025.
A Classic-winning jockey in France and Britain, Barzalona shot to wider prominence for his flamboyant celebrations when winning the 2011 Derby for Andre Fabre and Coolmore aboard Pour Moi (Ire) at the age of just 19. A former retained jockey for Godolphin, he won France's Cravache d'Or (jockeys' championship) in 2021 and is currently in second place in the table for this season behind Maxime Guyon.
During 2024, Barzalona's significant victories in the red and green silks of the Aga Khan Studs have included the G3 Prix de la Grotte aboard Candala (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and G3 Prix d'Aumale on Zarigana (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The latter, a granddaughter of the Aga Khan's brilliant Arc winner Zarkava (Fr), whose retirement from breeding was announced this week, will be partnered by Barzalona in Sunday's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac.
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