Mickael Barzalona

Following the explosive performance of Erdenali (Caravaggio) at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, the only downside is that the latest sensation to emerge from The Aga Khan Studs is a gelding and therefore unable to contest the Classics. Sent off the 2-1 favourite for the card's opening Prix Kashmir over a mile, the grandson of the high-class Ervedya (Siyouni) cruised from the back to the front two out under a near-motionless Mickael Barzalona, who had made the voyage back from Dubai where he had steered the operation's gelding supreme Calandagan only hours before....

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...

Fairy Glen (Farhh) demonstrated remarkable versatility and no small amount of class when stepping up fully seven furlongs in trip to win Saturday's $1-million G2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors for Simon and Ed Crisford. The winner of last month's G2 Balanchine over 1,800 metres of the Meydan turf, the five-year-old Fairy Glen remained an unknown quantity in this 3,200-metre contest, taking on heavyweight stayers such as Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) and Caballo De Mar (Phoenix Of Spain), the winners of last year's G1 Irish St. Leger...

Up half a mile from her inauspicious debut, Calasita (Zarak) enjoyed the stamina test at Saint-Cloud to get off the mark for Francis Graffard on Tuesday. A half-sister to The Aga Khan Studs world leader Calandagan (Gleneagles), the Prix de Diane entry who had been seventh over a mile at Deauville in October followed the pace with Mickael Barzalona in no hurry. Surging to the front with minimal urging approaching two out, the 23-10 second favourite gave extra to ward off Spirit Of Zarak (Zarak) late and prevail by half...

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....

Mickael Barzalona landed a hat-trick of victories at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on the eve of the Saudi Cup to clinch not just the International Jockeys' Challenge but also the valuable Saudi International Handicap.  With the first two legs of the four-race jockeys' contest having been won by Britain's Saffie Osborne and German Derby-winning rider Nina Baltromei, the Frenchman ensured the spoils would be his by taking the final two heats on the turf. Barzalona's victory aboard Year Of The Dragon in round four came at the expense of Norwegian-born Frida...

Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Steve Adkisson and Swinbank Stables' Six Speed (Not This Time), last-out winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, a conditions event over 1400 meters at Meydan Jan. 2, proved that an extra furlong was no bother whatsoever when striding out a comprehensive winner of Friday's G3 2000 Guineas going the metric mile. With Jake Ballis's Black Type Thoroughbreds and Reagan Swinbank's Swinbank Stables having bought into the 3-year-old colt this past week and with 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at...

The 14 participants for the 2026 International Jockeys' Challenge in Riyadh during the Saudi Cup meeting, were revealed on Wednesday. Featuring 14 jockeys, seven men and seven women, the four-race contest sees the return of last year's champion, local rider Mohammed Aldaham. Mickael Barzalona, the regular rider of the Longines World's Highest Rated Racehorse Calandagan (Gleneagles) is signed on, as is 2025 Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. Panama's Luis Morales is based in Saudi Arabia alongside Aldaham. Other male jockeys set to mark their mark on the contest include:...

Second in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship alongside James McDonald in 2024, Hollie Doyle is aiming to go one place at Happy Valley on Wednesday. The duo finished second to Mickael Barzalona and all three square off again in this year's edition. Joining that trio are Ryan Moore--recently back from injury--William Buick, Joao Moreira, Rachel King and Zac Purton. Doyle, who is currently riding on a short-term licence in Hong Kong, said, "I've got rides for trainers that I haven't ridden much for, which is good as hopefully I can...

James McDonald has won the Longines World's Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The New Zealand-born, Australian-based jockey also won the Longines World's Best Jockey Award in 2022. The awarding of the Longines World's Best Jockey title is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from December 1 of the previous year until November 30 of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12...

TOKYO, JAPAN -- It turns out that it takes the world's best horse to win what will surely be judged for the second time in three years to have been the world's best race. For 20 years the Europeans have come and failed to conquer, but Calandagan (Gleneagles), already at the summit of the world rankings for 2025 and with Mount Fuji as the backdrop for his most towering challenge to date, lowered the record of the great Almond Eye when outbattling race favourite Masquerade Ball (Duramente) to win the...

Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion Stakes featured the winners of all the big 10-furlong prizes in 2025, but in the end it went to the horse who had still to win over the trip. While Calandagan (Gleneagles) was in danger of being pigeon-holed as a mile-and-a-half performer following his wins in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and King George this summer, The Aga Khan Studs homebred went through Ascot's test with ease under Mickael Barzalona. Swooping wide approaching the final furlong, the 15-8 second favourite powered to the line to beat...