By Sean Cronin
Francis Graffard's stable continues its plunder of French stakes contests and the hitherto unbeaten Midak (Footstepsinthesand) made his mark for the yard with a pillar-to-post victory in Friday's G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud.
The 13-5 second choice, successful in staying contests at Lyon La Soie and Chantilly, asserted for early control after a level break in this black-type debut and held sway throughout. Shaken up when threatened with 500 metres remaining, he was ridden clear approaching the final furlong and kept on relentlessly in the closing stages to easily account for 9-1 chance Dioptase (New Bay) and the late-closing 1-2 favourite Uther (Camelot) by 2 1/2 lengths and a head.
“The horse has obviously improved from his last race, as much mentally as physically, and his behaviour at the races and during the race was very much satisfactory,” said Graffard. “He is not entered in the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club, so we will savour the moment for now and later we will discuss the future with his entourage. Maybe Willie Mullins will get in contact with us!”
Pedigree Notes
Midak is the latest of five foals and one of two scorers out of a dual-winning half-sister to Listed Prix de Thiberville victrix Mila (Cape Cross) and G2 Prix de Malleret and G3 Prix de Royaumont placegetter Mandistana (Azamour). Mila is the dam of the stakes-placed duo Mirann (Motivator) and Mirabad (Gleneagles) while descendants of Midak's G3 Prix de Royaumont-winning second dam Minatlya (Linamix) also include G3 Prix Penelope victrix Cartiem (Cape Cross) and Listed Prix de la Cochere third Stop The Cavalry (Lope De Vega).
Midak remains unbeaten with a straight-forward success in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud!🇫🇷
Another progressive type for @GraffardRacing and @AgaKhanStuds! pic.twitter.com/Vug9tCfE4f
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2025
Friday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GREFFULHE-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-9, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:11.64, gd.
1–MIDAK (FR), 128, c, 3, by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
1st Dam: Minya (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Minatlya (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Mintly Fresh, by Rubiano
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Suc. H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €64,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dioptase (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Gouville (Fr), by Rajsaman (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€55,000 Ylg '23 ARQOCT). O-Le Marais SAS, Ecuries Serge Stempniak & Guy Pariente Holding; B-SCEA Marmion Vauville, Ecurie Skymarc Farm & Nightchill LLC (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €16,000.
3–Uther (GB), 128, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Sosia (Ger), by Shamardal. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Christophe Ferland. €12,000.
Margins: 2HF, HD, 7HF. Odds: 2.60, 9.00, 0.50.
Also Ran: Piquoiseau (Fr), Aidan's Phone (Fr).
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