Francis-Henri Graffard

Juddmonte's Gilded Prize (Frankel) followed up a debut score at Chantilly in November with a TDN Rising Star effort back there on sophomore return last month and continued her rise through the ranks with an impressive pillar-to-post performance in Friday's G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud. "She's definitely taken a step forward there," commented rider Colin Keane. "She's very big and still learning on the job. She's a filly with a big future and hopefully building towards Group 1 level." Francis Graffard added, "She's a very good filly and she answered...

Back in competitive action for the first time since being crowned Longines World's Best Racehorses for 2025, Calandagan (Gleaneagles) signalled that he won't be giving up his crown without a fight when reeling in longshot West Wind Blows (Teofilo) to avenge last year's defeat in the $6-million G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday. Runner-up to Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) 12 months ago, Calandagan was a warm order to go one place better in this six-strong field and register a fifth consecutive Group 1 success for Francis-Henri Graffard and...

Calandagan (Gleneagles) warmed up for a potential tilt at the $6-million Dubai Sheema Classic with a racecourse gallop at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard confirming that, as things stand, his globetrotting stable star remains an intended runner in the Middle East despite the ongoing conflict in the region. "He needed to work harder than at home. It did him good and I'm satisfied," Graffard told Equidia following the exercise before racing at Saint-Cloud. "Potentially, he could return to this track to run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud....

Aga Khan Studs homebred three-year-old filly Edaja (Siyouni) added to her debut victory at Chantilly last month and remained unbeaten after pouncing late for the Francis Graffard stable back there in Thursday's Prix des Princesses. Patiently ridden in midfield until turning for home in the one-mile Polytrack test, she challenged out wide passing the furlong pole and edged ahead for a narrow verdict in the dying strides of a bunch finish. Edaja retains entries for the May 10 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and June 14 G1 Prix de Diane....

High-class filly Zarigana, who was awarded this year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in the stewards' room after suffering interference from the first past the post, Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation), has been retired from racing. Speaking from Hong Kong, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard told Sky Sports Racing, "She [Zarigana] is retired now. She has been a complicated filly and she has been very frustrating this season. I think she was so talented, but difficult and tricky. She could have won four Group 1s and only managed to win one in the stewards'...

Already a winner of the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) in June, Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) unleashed a devastating late kick to down stretch leader She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the dying strides and claim the $2-million GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf by half-length. The final time for the 1 3/8 miles was 2:12.54. The bay gave her trainer Francis-Henri Graffard his first Breeders' Cup victory. He is champion trainer elect in France this year. Bred by Haras d'Etreham where her sire used to...

The Breeders' Cup teams for Aidan O'Brien and Francis-Henri Graffard are taking shape, with both set to send strong representation to the two-day event at Del Mar on October 31 and November 1. Leading the Ballydoyle cavalry is Minnie Hauk, winner of the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks and runner-up in the Arc. The daughter of Frankel is training toward the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. "Our races have been nicely spaced out this year and she came out of the Arc well; everybody seems happy with her so that's...

Francis Graffard representative Samangan (Blue Point), fresh off a stakes breakthrough in last month's G3 Prix Eclipse, went postward as the prohibitively priced 1-5 favourite for Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and never gave connections a moment's worry with a stylish victory in the six-furlong contest. The Aga Khan Studs homebred stalked the pace in third from flagfall. Making smooth progress once past halfway, he eased to the front approaching the final furlong and was pushed out in the closing stages to easily account for Street Show (Showcasing) by 2...

Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz is set to remain a fixture in Europe's premier middle-distance contests in 2026, after the Aga Khan Studs confirmed that the son of Sea The Stars will stay in training as a four-year-old. "We let the dust settle a bit and we decided on Sunday to enjoy the moment before we regrouped to think about it, which we did this morning," said Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs. "There was Francis-Henri Graffard [trainer], Princess Zahra [owner] and the...

Producing a stirring finale to Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, The Aga Khan Studs runner Daryz (Sea The Stars) wore down Ballydoyle's star filly Minnie Hauk (Frankel) to cap a stellar season for Francis-Henri Graffard. Having been given an unorthodox preparation for this monument which culminated in a close second to Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, the 16-1 shot followed the pace set by the Japanese challenger with just the triple Oaks-winning 5-2 favourite to catch. Minnie Hauk looked to...

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard fields a trio of runners in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with Aga Khan homebred Daryz (Sea The Stars) to be ridden by Mickael Barzalona. The three-year-old colt has been stepped up gradually this season, with a win in the Listed Prix Ridgway in June followed by a success in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud later that month. Unplaced in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August, the son of Daryakana (Selkirk) bounced back to be second in the G3...

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...