Tag Archive for: Francis Graffard

Calandagan all set for Champion Stakes clash with Economics

Calandagan’s trainer Francis Graffard is relishing the prospect of a Qipco Champion Stakes clash with Economics.

The Aga Khan-owned gelding heads to Ascot on October 19 having won three of his five starts in 2024, including a six-length romp in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting back in June.

Subsequently beaten just a length by City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International at York, Calandagan – who as a gelding was unable to contest the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – arrives in Berkshire fresh from a break, with his trainer unconcerned by the possibility of testing conditions and eager to take on Irish Champion Stakes victor Economics.

Calandagan (left) ran City Of Troy close at York
Calandagan (left) ran City Of Troy close at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Graffard said: “Everything is well with Calandagan and he looks in very good shape. He has had a bit of time since York and, provided all goes well between now and Champions Day, he will be spot on for the Champion Stakes.

“I thought it was a fantastic run at York. He accelerated strongly and his final three furlongs were impressive. The main difference between York and Champions Day will likely be the ground, but he has form on soft ground earlier in the year.

“We have already met City Of Troy and now we take on another very strong opponent in Economics. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, and ground conditions could be a factor, but we know that Calandagan is a very good horse and look forward to the race.”

Iresine wins the Prix Foy
Iresine wins the Prix Foy (ScoopDyga/France Galop)

Fellow French-trained runner Iresine is also due to tackle the Champion Stakes, having won the Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp last month.

Trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin, who has yet to saddle a runner in Britain, said: “We could have stayed in France for the Prix du Conseil de Paris or the Prix Royal-Oak, but the Royal-Oak has moved to Saint-Cloud, a track where Iresine performs worse than at Longchamp.

“The horse deserves to run in Group One races and we all collectively really want to experience this English adventure with the different co-owners, including my children.

“The distance may be short for him, but he has already won a Group race, the La Coupe, over 2,000 metres (10 furlongs). The distance is not the most important factor for him. With Iresine, the key is the ground. We hope it will be as soft as possible.”



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Varian respectful of Coronation Stakes threats to Elmalka

Roger Varian is aware of the dangers that lurk in a strong field for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, as Elmalka looks to add another big race to her CV after landing Classic glory at Newmarket.

The Kingman filly went from last to first under Silvestre de Sousa on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket to land the 1000 Guineas by a neck from Porta Fortuna at odds of 28-1, with Ramatuelle a further short head back in third.

Varian’s charge was beaten into third on her seasonal reappearance in the Fred Darling at Newbury, but was only half a length in arrears of the Marco Botti-trained Folgaria and stepped forward from that at Headquarters.

Varian opted against sending her to the Irish Guineas won by Fallen Angel in favour of a break ahead of the Royal meeting.

Folgaria, Porta Fortuna and Ramatuelle reoppose from Newmarket, but Varian is hopeful his charge is in top condition.

Varian said: “We weren’t tempted to go to Ireland, as she’d had two fairly quick runs, and she’s training lovely. She looks great and she seems to be getting stronger. She’s not a flashy worker, but I don’t mind that.

“She was a bit green at Newbury, and arguably at Newmarket too, but she’s looking a bit more complete now and there’s no reason to think Ascot’s round mile won’t suit. We are excited about running her.”

Fallen Angel had disappointed at Newmarket before winning the Irish Guineas, and while she is an absentee after a training setback Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer, who was third at the Curragh, won three times as a juvenile and is a major contender following what was a delayed seasonal reappearance.

Varian added on Sky Sports Racing: “We believe her best performances are still ahead of her and they might need to be. Opera Singer was the champion juvenile filly of Europe last year and she ran very creditably in the Irish Guineas when by all accounts she was massively in need of the run, so you’d have to respect her.

“It might need a stronger performance from Elmalka to what she produced at Newmarket to topple that filly, but it’s not just Opera Singer, it’s a field stacked full of quality fillies.

“Hopefully she can improve a pound or two and if she does she should be bang there. I sure she’s sharper now than before the Guineas, but the way she finished there suggests she could stay beyond a mile at this stage and her performance this week will determine that.”

James Doyle
James Doyle will be back in the plate on Elmalka (Mike Egerton/PA)

James Doyle takes over from De Sousa on Elmalka and is keen to make up for missing out on Classic glory.

Doyle said: “I rode Elmalka in her first race of the season, the Fred Darling at Newbury, and she ran a really good race in third, looking a bit unlucky as she got trapped on that stands rail.

“Silvestre rode her in the Guineas, when I was required in France, and she clearly bounded forward for the run at Newbury. It was obviously hard missing out on a Classic win, but there will always be days like that and you just have to take the rough with the smooth.

“Her work at home is workmanlike, but that’s just her. She looks great and she’s done well physically since the Guineas, where it probably helped being out the back with the other main contenders at the finish. I think the track and the race will suit her.”

Opera Singer
Opera Singer was third in the Irish Guineas at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien has been delighted with how Opera Singer has come out of the Irish Guineas and with the focus on Ascot believes she will be in peak fitness.

The master of Ballydoyle told Racing TV: “We are very happy with her and she is a filly who is not an exuberant worker. She was only in work four weeks before the Curragh and really if she had finished mid-div we would have been really happy.

“We knew if we were thinking of coming to Ascot she would have to have a run and I was surprised with how well she ran really.

“She has been in good form since and everyone has been really happy with her. Her work has been nice and obviously we’re looking forward to seeing her again.

“She could do anything and she could get much further than a mile. So, obviously it is our second run this time and Ryan (Moore) will probably be a little bit more confident in her fitness this time. She is a big, straightforward filly really.”

Francis-Henri Graffard has preferred Royal Ascot to the French Oaks with Rouhiya and will take his chance with the surprise French 1000 Guineas winner.

Graffard said: “I’m very pleased with the condition of the filly and it’s a logical entry after her French Guineas win and she will be suited by the fast ground.

“I didn’t want to step her up in trip, so I didn’t want to run her in the Prix de Diane and I trained her for the Coronation.”

Oisin Murphy won the Coronation Stakes on Alcohol Free
Oisin Murphy won the Coronation Stakes on Alcohol Free (David Davies/PA)

Oisin Murphy, who struck three years ago aboard Alcohol Free, rides Ramatuelle for the first time and expects Christopher Head’s filly to be right up there at the business end of the race after finishing third in the Guineas in her first go at a mile, when at one stage she looked all over the winner.

Murphy said: “The Coronation is a climbing mile the whole way, but there is a bend. Alcohol Free was a very fast filly, like Ramatuelle, and she won the race on slow ground.

“It’s very competitive, with the Guineas winners and Opera Singer, but Ramatuelle was very good at two and she’s had a great preparation since the Guineas. The Newmarket run puts her right in the mix even though she didn’t win.”



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