King George hero Goliath teed himself up for a planned tilt at the Japan Cup with a determined victory in the Prix du Conseil de Paris at ParisLongchamp.
Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge had not been seen in competitive action since his spectacular display at Ascot in late July, when he belied odds of 25-1 to readily account for the subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking and last month’s Preis von Europa victor Rebel’s Romance.
As a gelding, Goliath was unable to run in the Arc himself and with connections also deciding against a return to Ascot for the Champion Stakes, the Japan Cup was identified as his big end-of-season target.
Having missed a rematch with Rebel’s Romance in Germany after suffering a minor setback, the four-year-old was rerouted to a Group Two on home soil and was unsurprisingly a warm order in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.
Carrying the colours of John Stewart for the first time after the American owner purchased a significant share from Philip Baron von Ullmann in the wake of his King George triumph, Goliath was settled in third for much of the one-mile-three-furlong journey, with Maniatic and the William Haggas-trained Hamish the two in front of him.
A motionless Soumillon cut a confident figure in the saddle early in the home straight as he looked around for dangers – and while the admirable Hamish refused to go down without a fight and kept the hot favourite honest, Goliath took his measure late on and passed the post a cosy half-length winner.
Graffard told the PA news agency: “I couldn’t be happier with Goliath. The horse needed the race and it’s all part of his preparation for his tilt at the Japan Cup.
“I’m very happy, it was a good run and a good ride from Christophe and the horse will come on a lot.”
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Francis-Henri Graffard was left wondering what could have been after Calandagan narrowly failed to add to his Royal Ascot victory in the Qipco Champion Stakes.
The French raider thrived at the Berkshire track on summer ground when dazzling in the King Edward VII Stakes and then put up an almighty performance in defeat when second to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
He was sent off the 6-4 favourite for this mouthwatering clash with Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics, but with soft ground and an unhelpful draw to contend with, Stephane Pasquier had to cutely weave his way to the front with half a furlong to run.
Calandagan was a taking winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
However, connections were soon left disappointed and could only watch on as – with what appeared the hard work done – glory was snatched away by Jim Crowley aboard Owen Burrows’ 40-1 scorer Anmaat in the dying strides.
Calandagan’s trainer was proud of his charge’s performance, but was left rueing not only the troubled passage through the race, but also the testing conditions on British Champions Day.
Graffard said: “It was a very good effort and he was stumbling a few times on that ground and as Stephane said, he had to keep asking him to keep going in that ground and it didn’t suit him much.
“Second again – I am so upset. We had a very difficult draw, and in that ground this horse puts in too much effort.
“But we had a very good race, he quickened clear and I thought the race was for us. Then he got caught on the line, so that’s it.
“We didn’t see the winner coming and he met some trouble in running. He probably prefers a mile and a half and being in his own bubble where he can quicken very strongly. Today it was out of his pace and he then had trouble when starting to come with a run and then made his effort, it’s tough.
“He’s a very good horse and this year he has been winning or second all the time, I think he’s a very talented horse. We will give him a nice break now over the winter and hopefully we see him again next year. He deserves a nice break now.”
For William Haggas it is a case of back to the drawing board with Economics after the 2-1 second favourite failed to recreate his Irish Champion Stakes heroics.
Economics failed to fire in the Qipco Champion Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)
Prior to the race Haggas conceded testing conditions were both an unknown and a worry, but refused to use the ground as an excuse. It was reported by the veterinary officer that the colt – who finished sixth – had bled from the nose during the race.
Haggas said: “He was a bit disappointing obviously, Tom (Marquand, jockey) felt the ground was a bit soft for him but I said I wasn’t going to use that as an excuse, so I’m not going to.
“He seems fine. There was a little bit of blood in his nose so we will sort that out and regroup.”
Marquand was in agreement that his mount was unsuited by the underfoot conditions, but hopes this is just a minor blip in the horse’s career.
The Economics team will have to regroup (Healy Racing/PA Wire)
He said: “It was obviously not the result we wanted it to be, but when you are contending with an unknown like the ground, it is tough. He’s been very good on good to firm ground, but today it just didn’t work out for us.
“Obviously the blood in the nose is a concern, but William and (wife) Maureen are the ones who see the horse every day and I just get on him at the races.
“They know him better than anyone and if there is a problem, they will be fixing it. Hopefully it is nothing serious that is going to impede him being the best horse he can be.”
He went on: “As a jockey you want Group One horses to stay with you and he is top horse, he showed that in the Irish Champion and I’m praying he stays around.”
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Francis-Henri Graffard trained the first two home as Vertical Blue caused an 100-1 upset in flooring hot favourite Zarigana in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp.
All the talk pre-race surrounded the Aga Khan-owned market leader – who is a granddaughter of the great Zarkava – and after travelling in mid-division it looked as though she would only have to peg back Aidan O’Brien’s enterprisingly-ridden Exactly to prevail.
Her stablemate Vertical Blue went with her, however, and the judge had to be called to announce the outsider as the winner with Zarigana narrowly behind and Exactly in third.
Graffard said: “It’s unbelievable, they are both amazing fillies. My other filly is really a champion, she quickened strongly but the other one has experience and I knew on a big, galloping track she would be competitive.
“It’s not much (between them), but I am happy.
“I knew going into this race that I had two very good fillies and that both were in good form.
Vertical Blue (IRE) secures her spot in the @JohnDeere#BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies Turf with victory in the #WinAndYoureIn Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac! Cheers to the connections!
J: Alexis PouchinT: F-H GraffardO: Gemini Stud & Argella RacingB: Haras Du Mont Dit Mont pic.twitter.com/Fh672Oc51e
“In the race I could see how it was developing was very different, I had Vertical Blue who was progressing on the inside and I knew because of the open stretch she would be in a good position to challenge.”
Francis Teboul, owner of Vertical Blue under the Gemini Stud and Argella Racing banner, added: “I think our emotions were more on display than I could describe.
“We hesitated over running her in the Arqana series or in the Prix Marcel Boussac.
“We knew she was a quality filly and that she could run to a place because Francis-Henri told us that she was in great form, he’s a fantastic trainer who doesn’t get things wrong very often.
“We just thought we had nothing to lose but we never thought we would beat the champion in the race!”
Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, was taking the positives from Zarigana’s narrow defeat.
She said: “We’re of the opinion that Zarigana ran really well. She’s a very sensitive filly. There are still areas for improvement with her. For example when Mickaël (Barzalona) pulls her out for her, she tends to quicken straight away.
“We thought that had got up on passing the winning post. She has her future ahead of her. She has a lot of speed and will begin her 2025 campaign over 1,600 metres.
“It’s true that we’re disappointed to have got beaten but that’s racing! She’s come a long way in a short space of time.”
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Francis-Henri Graffard reports Calandagan to be in “top form” as he builds up towards a mouthwatering clash with Economics in the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month.
So impressive when winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot by six lengths, the son of Gleneagles was last seen powering up the York straight to finish a clear second behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International.
Being a gelding, Calandagan is ineligible to run on home soil in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, therefore making Qipco British Champions Day on October 19 the obvious destination.
French dominance in The King Edward VII stakes! CALANDAGAN romps home under Stephane Pasquire for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and owner H.H. Aga Khan. #RoyalAscotpic.twitter.com/F2WJkwxzvi
Graffard said: “Calandagan in top form and is training to go to Ascot.”
The three-year-old is the 2-1 second-favourite for the Champion Stakes with Paddy Power, who make the William Haggas-trained Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics their 6-4 favourite.
Another Graffard inmate with an upcoming top-level target is the regally-bred Zarigana, who took her career record to two from two with a dominant display in the Group Three Prix d’Aumale.
A granddaughter of the unbeaten Arc heroine Zarkava, the Siyouni filly is being readied for a return to ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.
“Zarigana is a lovely filly and won nicely and she will be targeted at the Prix Marcel Boussac,” Graffard added.
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Goliath has been ruled out of Sunday’s Group One Preis von Europa at Cologne due to a minor setback.
The four-year-old has been off the track since his shock 25-1 victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, with prominent American owner John Stewart subsequently purchasing a significant percentage of the gelding from Philip Baron von Ullmann.
As a gelding, Goliath is not permitted to take part in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and after deciding against a Champion Stakes run, connections had settled on the German target ahead of a Japan Cup bid.
Goliath had been due a rematch with King George third Rebel’s Romance in Cologne, but the son of Adlerflug did not feature among the six-strong field on Thursday morning.
Von Ullmann told www.galopponline.de: “This morning I received a call from trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who told me that Goliath had developed a small foot abscess after his final work.
“It’s nothing long-term, but safety comes first and we don’t think it’s right to let him run in Cologne if he’s not at 100 per cent and is causing the horse additional discomfort. Animal welfare is always our top priority.
“John and I were really looking forward to running in Cologne and he was planning to fly from America to Cologne, but that’s horse racing. We’re still aiming for the Japan Cup, but we’ll have to see what the exact plan is now.”
Graffard still hopes to give Goliath a prep run before his planned trip to Japan in November.
He told the PA news agency: “He has a foot abscess and was not 100 per cent, so we won’t take any risks any with him.
“I’ll have to look at the programme book and see. Hopefully we’ll have one run before he can go to Japan.”
Charlie Appleby’s Rebel’s Romance now appears the leading contender, with German Derby winner Palladium, the Jessica Harrington-trained Trevaunance, Lordano, Straight and Erle completing the line up.
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Connections are favouring the Qipco Champion Stakes for Calandagan after his valiant second to a “true champion” in the Juddmonte International at York.
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained bay has had a superb season so far, scoring a Group-race hat-trick that began with success in the Prix Noailles and led to victories in the Prix Hocquart and then the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The latter run was a brilliant six-length triumph and booked the gelding’s place in the Juddmonte International at York last week for a first test at Group One level for owner-breeder the Aga Khan.
There he was a 13-2 chance under Stephane Pasquier when stepping down in trip, and though left in mid-division by the fast early pace the three-year-old was always travelling well as City Of Troy made the running.
On the turn for home Calandagan began to progress on the outside and in the straight he showed a very smart turn of foot to pass the majority of the field and give chase to the leader.
Stephane Pasquier celebrates aboard Calandagan at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
City Of Troy held on to a one-length win with Calandagan behind him, and the third-placed Ghostwriter was a further three and a half lengths back as the first two home broke the track record set by the great Sea The Stars in 2009.
Options for Calandagan’s next outing are narrowed down by the fact that he is a gelding and therefore not eligible for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with connections currently favouring Ascot in October instead.
“He came out of the race really well, I am very pleased to see how he took that race – even better than the race at Ascot,” said Graffard.
“We dropped back in distance so it was hard to get closer to the pace, but he finished really strongly and he was beaten by a true champion so we were very pleased with his run.
“We haven’t made a decision yet, but at the moment we are leaning towards the Champion Stakes at Ascot for his next run.”
There will be suitable races overseas once the European season reaches an end, but it is yet to be decided whether Calandagan will stay in action that long or will be wound down for a winter break before returning next year.
Graffard added: “He has opportunities abroad, but it depends if we decide to wait for next year or if we keep going this season, that will be decided with the owner.”
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Francis-Henri Graffard was proud of Calandagan in defeat after the French raider found only the brilliant City Of Troy too strong in an epic Juddmonte International at York.
Calandagan was on a roll after completing a hat-trick for the season with a stunning display in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he was a 13-2 shot to continue his winning streak in what looked the race of the season on the Knavesmire.
There was no hanging around from the much-heralded Derby hero City Of Troy, who galloped his rivals into submission from the front to claim victory in a course record time – and it was Graffard’s charge who gave him most to think about.
Stephane Pasquier’s mount ate up the ground in the home straight and will briefly have had City Of Troy’s supporters sweating after moving onto his tail. He could not quite get on terms, but his trainer felt he lost little in coming up only a length short.
“It was a fantastic run. They jumped very fast and then they took a pull and that didn’t suit us, as we found ourselves quite far from the lead,” said Graffard.
“He tried my horse, the way he quickened in the straight, it was fantastic to watch. I shouted as I was thinking we were coming to get him (City Of Troy), but he kept pushing and he is a champion.
“I’m very proud of our horse. It is the first time he has run in a Group One and we didn’t have any Group One form before, so there were still a lot of question marks – but the way he accelerated in the straight was fantastic and he is a very good horse.”
While in no rush to firm up future plans, Graffard raised a return to Ascot for the Qipco Champion Stakes in October as a possibility.
He added: “Obviously we will see how he comes back. He can come back to Ascot for the Champion Stakes, we will speak to the entourage obviously, but we know he doesn’t mind soft ground.
“There are plenty of options. As you know, he’s a gelding. We’ll see how he comes back because I think he gave a lot of his heart on the racecourse today.
“He definitely could (travel abroad), but I think he’s a horse that wants a big, galloping track.”
Having finished third behind City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month, Clive Cox’s 33-1 shot Ghostwriter again picked up the bronze medal to emerge best of the home team.
Ghostwriter (second right) finishing third in the Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA)
Cox said: “I’m extremely proud. It was definitely the race of the year and I’m very proud of how my horse has acquitted himself impeccably, enjoying the drier surface.
“Full marks to Richard Kingscote for the ride he gave him from stall 13 and I’m highly delighted with the run and proud to be part of it.
“It was a career-best without a shadow of a doubt. We’ve always believed in him, he was an incredible two-year-old, these dreams always felt possible and thankfully he’s confirming those possibilities.
“I think a mile and a quarter is his trip and I don’t think we’ll be searching to take him further.”
Bluestocking winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)
Bluestocking has enjoyed a fine season for trainer Ralph Beckett and owners Juddmonte, landing the Middleton Stakes over this course and distance in the spring before breaking her Group One duck in the Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland and then finishing second to Goliath in the King George.
Solid market support led to her going off the 5-1 second-favourite for her latest top-level assignment and while she was far from disgraced in fourth, connections felt the run exposed her limitations against the best of the boys.
“She’s run a huge race, to be fair. The first three home are very good horses and to be best of the rest in what looked like the race of the year was a huge run,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.
“Today was to find out whether she was up to an Arc or if she is a filly for the Prix de l’Opera or the Fillies & Mares on Champions Day. I think today we found out we’ve got a very good filly, but she’s probably better sticking to her own sex.
“We’re very, very happy with her and Rossa (Ryan) said the trip makes no difference (mile and a quarter or a mile and a half).
“Obviously we’ve had two course records today, so the ground is quick and Rossa felt she might be a little bit better on softer ground, but we were comprehensively beaten, so we’ll go back against our own sex and try to win another (Group One) before the year is out.
“All year she hasn’t let us down. I know you’re always disappointed to finish fourth, but that was a huge run.”
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The Aga Khan Studs are to relocate all of the horses they have based with Jean-Claude Rouget to the stable of Francis-Henri Graffard.
The Aga Khan’s famous green silks with red epaulettes are a regular sight on European racecourses and the owner is a major presence in France, where he has horses based with Mikel Delzangles, Graffard and Rouget.
The latter, who has stepped away from the helm of his yards recently due to ill health, announced last week that he would be merging with fellow French trainer Jerome Reynier in January 2025.
Their joint string will not include horses previously trained by Rouget for the Aga Khan, however, as the stud’s reorganisation will see them sent to Graffard.
A statement posted to the organisation’s website said: “The Aga Khan Studs have announced that their horses currently trained by Jean-Claude Rouget will be relocated to the Aiglemont training centre in Gouvieux under the supervision of Francis-Henri Graffard, with the aim of streamlining their operations.
“The team at Aga Khan Studs extend their heartfelt thanks to Jean-Claude Rouget for his dedication over the past 19 years, during which time he has won seven Group One races for H.H. the Aga Khan, including Valyra (Prix de Diane), Ervedya (Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Coronation Stakes and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp) and more recently Vadeni (Prix du Jockey Club and Eclipse Stakes).”
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Francis-Henri Graffard’s Goliath will return to Ascot on Saturday for a tilt at the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.
The Adlerflug gelding travelled from his home in France in June to contest the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, where he was second to Isle Of Jura over the King George trip of a mile and a half.
Having fared well since that performance, a repeat journey back to English shores now beckons and he will step up to Group One level over the same course and distance at the weekend.
Christophe Soumillon will get the leg-up, and Graffard is hopeful the pace will be quick in what he expects to be a hot renewal.
“He is in very good form, he came out of his race at Ascot in great shape,” said Graffard.
“We have freshened him up, he’s back to 100 per cent and he’s ready to go again.
“He’s running again on Saturday in the King George, Christophe Soumillon takes the ride.
“It would be nice if there was a little bit more pace, it seems to be a very strong renewal of the race so we’ll see how he gets on.”
Calandagan (green) was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
Graffard may have hit the crossbar at Royal Ascot with Goliath, but his stablemate Calandagan did not miss, running out a superb six-length winner of the King Edward VII Stakes.
He could also be headed for England as he holds an entry for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, although Deauville is also a possibility with the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on the table.
Graffard added: “He’s in great shape, the plan has not quite been made yet for the future. He has York and Deauville as options.”
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Francis-Henri Graffard is set to give impressive Royal Ascot winner Calandagan a break after his exploits in Berkshire.
The King Edward VII Stakes winner is ineligible for some big Group One races in France after being gelded and Graffard is likely to give the son of Gleneagles a rest before deciding what his next assignment will be.
Calandangan won a pair of Group Three races at ParisLongchamp on soft and heavy ground before charging home by six lengths in the hands of Stephane Pasquier at Group Two level to show he can go on any surface.
Graffard said: “We know how hard it is to be competitive and win at Ascot, so we are delighted with this win of course.
“He can’t run in the Grand Prix de Paris and Arc de Triomphe. We will see where we go next. He came out of the race well but he probably needs a little bit of a break now.”
Francis-Henri Graffard is likely to give his Royal Ascot hero a break (John Walton/PA)
One horse that could make a return to Britain is Goliath, who ran impressively to finish second behind Isle Of Jura in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes.
Graffard hinted that the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Ascot could be an option for the four-year-old.
He said: “Goliath is a horse I’ve always liked. He’s quite difficult to manage during the race. He pulled too much again on Saturday but he was a comfortable second.
Goliath (yellow cap) chased home Isle Of Jura in the Hardwicke Stakes (John Walton/PA)
“He came out well and can even return in the King George. It’s a thing we can look at with the owner but he’s a nice horse and we are pleased with the track.”
However, the trainer was baffled by Rouhiya’s poor run in the Coronation Stakes.
The Lope De Vega filly won the French 1000 Guineas but ran no race at Ascot, trailing home last of the nine runners and six lengths adrift of the field.
Graffard said: “We have to find out what went wrong. I have my idea behind my back, in my head, but she didn’t run a minute – too bad to be true.
“I don’t know where she will go next. I want to find out what went wrong.”
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Calandagan delivered an impressive blow for the French raiders at Royal Ascot, as he routed his opponents in the King Edward VII Stakes.
The French contingent looked blessed with plenty of live chances prior to the meeting, but they had to wait until the penultimate race on day four to get on the board via the Aga Khan-owned son of Gleneagles.
Keen to set a stiff stamina test for 2-1 favourite Diego Velazquez, the remaining Aidan O’Brien-trained team forced the pace in the early stages, with Chief Little Rock the one to go on in an attempt to stretch the field.
Having travelled alongside the well-regarded second favourite Space Legend into the straight, Diego Velazquez struggled to make his presence felt, and just as James Doyle began to get busy aboard one of Wathnan Racing’s big-money buys, the eye was drawn to Calandagan who was storming into contention.
Winning trainer Francis Graffard in the Ascot winner’s enclosure (John Walton/PA)
Stephane Pasquier delivered the 11-2 shot with just over a furlong to run and he soon stretched clear of Space Legend for the most taking of victories.
It was trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s second winner at the Royal meeting having first tasted success with Watch Me in the Coronation Stakes back in 2019.
He said: “With the draw we had we found ourselves a little bit out the back, but we decided to ride him by himself as he’s not used to a big field like that.
“It was very straightforward. It’s a pleasure to come, we’ve had a tough week so it’s good to finish on a nice winner.”
Calandagan hails from the family of Classic winner Clodovil but was gelded at the end of his juvenile campaign.
Graffard added: “First time out at Deauville he was very difficult, he wouldn’t load so we had no choice (but to geld him). I’m sure the Princess (Zahra Aga Khan) will tell me she is upset we gelded him, again! Every win she is telling me, she is not happy, not happy!
“It’s brilliant, I am delighted for her.”
Princess Zahra Aga Khan was at Ascot (John Walton/PA)
Princess Zahra added: “He has always been a very good horse and he has shown himself to be improving. Today he has shown himself to be a very good horse.
“They’re all homebred and this family is not one of our oldest families, but it’s good to see them do well as they’re a very consistent family. They tend to be mile-and-a-half horses but he has a turn of foot and it’s wonderful to see.
“He is a special one and he is one we can keep, he will have a really interesting career.”
Ezeliya was a Classic winner in the Aga Khan colours when landed the Oaks last month, but Princess Zahra missed the race due to travel issues.
She added: “That was a once-in-a-lifetime race, the fact that I wasn’t there – I was crying in my mum’s kitchen! It was really bad!”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/276602029-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-06-21 17:17:062024-06-21 17:50:06Calandagan cruises to King Edward victory
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