By Tom Frary
Entered in all the big ones in France, Varandir (Zarak) stayed on track when extending his perfect record to three-from-three for The Aga Khan Studs in Sunday's G3 Prix Hocquart at ParisLongchamp.
Held up in rear early by Mickael Barzalona, the even-money favourite who had won here on debut and at Lyon-Parilly last month stayed on down the outer to lead inside the final half furlong and score by 1 1/4 lengths from Jabracadabra (Cracksman), with a head back to Wiki (Make Believe) in third.
From the family of the 2012 Prix de Diane heroine Valyra (Azamour), the winner is one of the Francis Graffard team entered in the Grand Prix de Paris and Arc. Calandagan took this race two years ago before hitting the heights, while Varandir also won the same maiden as Daryz last month. “I was quite worried when I saw his position on the home turn,” the trainer admitted. “He's a cold colt and he was overwhelmed by the strong pace, was forced to run wide there but finished well once he found his action. It will have taught him something.”
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Varandir – who has an Arc entry – gets going just in time to remain unbeaten in the G3 Prix Hocquart!@GraffardRacing @AgaKhanStuds pic.twitter.com/k3ArExNpxf
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 24, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Varandir is the first foal out of the Listed-winning dam, whose second is the two-year-old filly Vardaniya (Mehmas). The fourth dam Valima (Linamix) was successful in the Prix Imprudence when it carried Listed status before producing the aforementioned Classic heroine Valyra.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX HOCQUART-G3, €73,200, ParisLongchamp, 5-24, 3yo, 11fT, 2:15.47, g/s.
1–VARANDIR (FR), 129, c, 3, by Zarak (Fr)
1st Dam: Varkesha (Fr) (SW-Fr), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Varana (Fr), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
3rd Dam: Valasyra (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €36,600. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €59,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Jabracadabra (Fr), 129, g, 3, Cracksman (GB)–Peace Melody (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€45,000 Ylg '24 ARQOCT). O-Kevin Freeman; B-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie Billon & Claudio Marzocco; T-Amy Murphy. €14,640.
3–Wiki (GB), 129, c, 3, Make Believe (GB)–Wanderina (Ire), by Manduro (Ger). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere; T-Christophe Ferland. €10,980.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 6.60, 4.70.
Also Ran: Chamali (GB), Baroud (GB), Zaramix (Fr).
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