Tag Archive for: Francis-Henri Graffard

Monday Musings: Daryz Makes it the Aga’s Arc

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Ten furlongs (and a little bit) on fast ground at York is a world away from a mile and a half in very soft going at Longchamp in October, writes Tony Stafford. Run in a fast time – yesterday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was the only race among a string of Group 1’s to better the standard – identifies it as a very good version of the race, certainly as far as the first two home were concerned.

The going might explain in part Daryz’s elevation from last of six as a 14/1 shot at York to winning the Arc at slightly bigger odds. In doing so, he collected more than £2 million for the Aga Khan studs. Sadly, Prince Karim, who died in early February this year, never lived to see his colt, a son of champion 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Arc winner Sea The Stars on the racetrack.

https://youtu.be/poLX14qVTA8?si=6MWEOQdjr4vIwOfK

Daryz only made his debut in early April and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard guided him gently through the grades before York, via two conditions events, then a Listed race and a Group 2, before sending him overseas for the first time.

There was an obvious feeling of shock when he flopped in the Juddmonte, but Daryz restored confidence with a narrow defeat in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange over ten furlongs of Sunday’s course three weeks ago. Just a neck behind Japan’s Croix Du Nord, his was very much a try-out for yesterday, and the form turnaround – 11 lengths – was a stark reminder of how the top French trainers have always used the racing calendar to their advantage.

Daryz would undoubtedly have been at much shorter odds bar the flood of money on the Pari-Mutuel for the three Japanese runners. Two, Croix Du Nord and Alohi Alii, were out with the washing in 14th and 16th of the 17 starters, while Byzantine Dream, supported down to 7/1 second favourite, could do no better than fifth.

So far, we haven’t mentioned the favourite, unreasonably so as Minnie Hauk ran an astounding race, beaten only a neck by the Mickael Barzalona-ridden winner having been in the front four throughout. When Christophe Soumillon took her to the front, it looked like being a Coolmore/Aidan O’Brien treble on the day, but Daryz proved just too strong.

As the colt and filly fought out the finish, it was admirable that they stretched more than five lengths ahead of their field. With such as the Juddmonte one/two Ombudsman and Delacroix absent, as well as unqualified-by-the-conditions star geldings including Calandagan and Goliath, it wasn’t the race of earlier vintages when EVERYTHING used to turn up.

Having been a fan of racing well before Sea Bird II’s 1965 Derby and Arc demolition jobs, I’ll never forget his day in Paris when he cantered over such as Reliance, Diatome and further back the top-class American colt Tom Rolfe.

Big money is to be earned with less sweat for connections and horses alike these days, though, and no doubt the Japanese will be regretting putting so much energy into their continuing luckless quest to win the race. They do far better on Dubai World Cup Day and yesterday’s valiant trio should be ready in time for that.

As the records describe him, Aga Khan IV won the race four times between 1982 and 2008 with Akiyda, Derby winner Sinndar, Dalakhani and the brilliant mare Zarkava.

His father, Prince Aly Khan, married to the actress Rita Hayworth and destined to an early passing via a fatal car crash, enjoyed success in 1959 with Saint Crespin. And his father, Aga Khan III, won the race which was founded in 1920 with Migoli in 1948 and Nuccio four years later.

Talking about the Arc soon afterwards Barzalona explained how he needed to make the most of his good draw. Soumillon on Minnie Hauk (drawn 1) was fast away and Barzalona slotted the winner, exiting stall two, in just handy. It’s always seemed weird to me that over longer distances it happens, but the draw did make a big difference in this race. The highest drawn of the first four home was Marco Botti’s Giavellotto, (drawn five) just behind third-placed Sosie (stall three) in fourth.

You would imagine that the winner, unraced at two, would have plenty to gain from staying in training, and might be aimed at a rare Arc double next year. I would love to see Minnie Hauk, a daughter of Frankel, continue too. One obvious stud route for her was closed when Wootton Bassett came to his untimely end in Australia last month.

It seems a date next month at the Breeders’ Cup has not been ruled out. Yesterday was only her fifth race of the year and seventh in all, so she has hardly been over raced. I’m pretty sure the ever-combative owners would be all for it.

Incidentally, Wootton Bassett had two winners on the Sunday card, both from mares by Galileo. Having already picked up the Qatar Prix Marcel Bousac with Diamond Necklace, O’Brien, Soumillon and the Coolmore partners added the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for two-year-old colts with Puerto Rico.

Last weekend at Newmarket, on remarking to Michael Tabor that True Love had done well to retain her form through a long season in winning the Cheveley Park Stakes, he replied, “That’s what Aidan does.”

He could have used the same phrase to describe the progress of the Lagardere winner. He was beaten twice in maidens; another couple of times in Curragh Group 2 races before finishing 4th in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) a couple of places behind True Love.

He broke his maiden at the sixth time of asking at Doncaster last month and improved again markedly on that with an all-the-way emphatic success here. Last year’s winner of the race, stable-companion Camille Pissarro, went on to victory in this year’s Prix du Jockey Club and was retired after getting injured when 4th to another stablemate, Delacroix, in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

The second win from that Wootton Bassett-Galileo nick was the Christopher Head-trained Maranoa Charlie in the Prix de la Foret. The three-year-old had been extremely unlucky when third at York and showed his true colours here.

There had been a few mutterings that Soumillon’s spell as temporary replacement for Ryan Moore had not been a success, but the contra view was that he would come into his own on the French tracks. His masterful judgment of pace coming from the back on Diamond Necklace was a typical French ride from the Yves Saint-Martin era, never getting involved until coming with a smooth run down the outside. Those 8/1 odds for Newmarket next spring might shrink a fair bit over the winter.

Unusually, yesterday wasn’t a great day for UK trainers, who drew a blank. One who did play a part in a piece of racing history, however, was Amy Murphy. Now happily settled in Chantilly, she had been among the back-up team behind Asfoora’s first ever win for an Australian-trained horse in France.

Asfoora’s trainer Henry Dwyer was rather sheepish as he related how if it hadn’t been for Ms Murphy and a very quick Uber driver, the mare would not have been allowed to race.

Instead of taking Asfoora’s passport to the track, he brought the one for a horse he’d bought at the Arqana Arc Eve sale on Saturday. Amy sorted the driver and the correct passport arrived with a minute and a half to spare.

It didn’t take Asfoora quite that long to beat her 16 rivals in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp under a very confident Oisin Murphy. She came through to challenge outsider Jawwal in the last furlong, winning by a comfortable half-length in 56.39 sec. The seven-year-old isn’t regarded as the best sprinter in Australia but she’s more than good enough to beat the cream of Europe’s speed merchants.

It was sad that Peter Charalambous’s Apollo One found so much trouble in the six furlongs of Ascot’s John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes on Saturday, more than enough to prevent a follow-up from last year’s triumph. Stopped in his run repeatedly, he stretched out gamely to the line, making up several lengths in the last furlong, but missed out by a rapidly diminishing short head to Mick Appleby’s Annaf.

Winning group races is never easy, but this was one that slipped through his owner-trainer-breeder’s fingers. It made the difference of £30k and prevented the seven-year-old (that’s right, another one) from getting neatly onto career earnings of almost exactly half a million quid.  I’m sure it’s only delayed.

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Calandagan not certain to take Juddmonte International chance

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King George hero Calandagan appears far from certain to line up in the Juddmonte International at York next month, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard suggesting he could keep his powder dry for major targets on foreign soil later in the year.

Fresh from securing a belated first Group One victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the four-year-old comprehensively turned the tables on his Coronation Cup conqueror Jan Brueghel to provide his trainer with back-to-back wins in Saturday’s Ascot feature following Goliath’s triumph 12 months ago.

Calandagan found only City Of Troy too strong in the Juddmonte International last summer – but while Graffard is not ruling out a return to the Knavesmire, he feels his stable star will need a break at some stage if he is to head abroad in the latter part of 2025.

“He came back yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime and ate everything. He lost 13 kilos, which is normal, and he was at the track this morning and seems fine,” the trainer told Sky Sports Racing.

“It (Juddmonte International) is in the back of my head and he is entered. I think that would be great for the sport if he can go there, (but) he showed that a mile and a half on good ground is what he really likes and where he’s very efficient.

“I have to discuss it with the Princess (Zahra, who leads the management team of the Aga Khan Studs) and I haven’t been in touch with her since (Saturday). He has big targets in Japan, Hong Kong, the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai, so I can’t keep him going non-stop and will probably have to stop at one stage.

“I have to discuss it with the Princess, but at the moment I am probably going to go for a break with him.”

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Ascot
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Graffard has a second Aga Khan-owned Juddmonte International entry in the form of Daryz, who was last seen stretching his unbeaten record to four in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam.

When asked whether he was a possible contender for the York feature, Graffard added: “He is, again that would be a discussion I need to have with the Princess.

“He’s a very nice prospect, Daryz, I really like the horse, but is he ready to go into a race like the Juddmonte International against these very strong horses? It’s a big question mark.

“If he doesn’t go to York, he can go the classic French way of the Prix Niel and the Arc.”

Graffard also confirmed the Prix de la Foret as a likely target for French Guineas heroine and Coronation Stakes runner-up Zarigana, while Prix Jean Prat victor Woodshauna is being aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest ahead of a possible trip to Haydock for the Sprint Cup in September.

Graffard ‘never had any doubts’, as Calandagan shows his true colours

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If there was any doubt about Calandagan’s resolution in a battle, then his King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes tussle with Kalpana firmly answered the question.

Narrowly beaten in four top-level contests since scoring at Royal Ascot last summer, some had looked at the four-year-old’s thirst for victory as a reason why the talented son of Gleneagles was yet to strike at the highest level.

Francis-Henri Graffard never had any doubts and although relief may have been the overriding emotion when Calandagan opened his Group One account in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last month, this was a moment of sweet vindication for the Aga Khan team who have stood steadfast behind their star middle-distance performer.

“I never had any doubts about his willingness to win and every time he has been beaten he has had excuses,” said Graffard.

“He was really far back in the Juddmonte International and he quickened really strongly, just too late, and in Dubai he again finished strongly when beaten by a very good horse. At Epsom, I had plenty of excuses, but I could never say it was because he didn’t want to try.

“Mickael (Barzalona) knows him better now and he loves good ground and the mile-and-a-half distance. I think there can’t be any more doubt about his willingness to win.”

Having caused a 25-1 shock with Goliath 12 months ago, Graffard this time had the 11-10 favourite on his side and a horse who could quite rightfully class Ascot as his second home.

A regular at British passport control, he once again displayed his liking for crossing the Channel, this time around taking home £850,650 after Barzalona delivered his mount with precision to deny Andrew Balding’s top-class filly.

Graffard added: “I thought the filly might have got away and when she quickened I thought ‘oh my god, I’m going to be beaten a neck again’.

“But Mickael said he was waiting and he really helped him to balance. He said the last 200 metres are long here and he knew he was going to catch her.

“The way he can quicken is very impressive, he’s a very good horse and now we know whatever tactics the opposition have we can be competitive in these top races.”

For Graffard, a second win in one of the season’s key contests cements his position as one of the leading trainers in the world.

Having shown himself to be a powerhouse on home soil, he is now proving it on the global stage, again displaying his willingness to venture into enemy territory and make a daring raid on the spoils.

“I love the sport and competition and when you have a top horse in good form, I think it is important to challenge yourself against the best possible opposition,” said Graffard.

“That is how you can really level-up the quality of your horses and English racing is so strong. I came to Royal Ascot with a really strong team of horses and left disappointed, so it is not easy. When you win, it makes it even more joyful.

“The season has been very strong for me so far, we’re just starting the second half now and I’ve just had a week off to recharge and the stats have been very strong for the stable, so we need to keep bringing the winners and we are working very hard.”

By emulating the achievement of countryman Maurice Zilber – trainer of 1973 and 1974 winner Dahlia – he has now done what many of his contemporaries, including even the great Andre Fabre, have so far failed to achieve.

Dahlia and Zilber were of course thwarted in ‘the race of the century’ when seeking a King George hat-trick 50 years ago.

But on the day next year’s Ascot feature was boosted to a swelling £2million prize-pot, the lure of one of the sport’s greatest races is sure to prove a tempting proposition once again.

“Hopefully. It’s an amazing race and I’m not sure why it is not on the agenda for more horses and stables,” said Graffard when asked about seeking a third win in the race.

“It’s a fantastic race and of course you don’t just come for the prize-money. If my horses are in good form I would definitely come back again.”

Soumillon shines as Woodshauna strikes in Prix Jean Prat

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Francis-Henri Graffard’s fine season continued at Deauville, as Woodshauna claimed a thrilling Prix Jean Prat.

A winner at Group Three level at Chantilly on his most recent start, the colt was subsequently purchased by American businessman John Stewart for £625,000 at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot and immediately saw the form boosted when Chantilly runner-up Time For Sandals won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Christopher Head’s Maranoa Charlie, who was fourth at Chantilly, led the field along this time in his first outing in the colours of Yorkshire-based Bond Thoroughbreds, with Christophe Soumillon in no rush as he anchored Woodshauna in rear.

Maranoa Charlie refused to lie down as the race began to develop, with Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light and Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter making their challenge on either side.

However, none were finishing as strongly as Woodshauna, who weaved his way to the front in time to lead home a French one-two, with Maranoa Charlie holding on for second, The Lion In Winter third and Shadow Of Light fourth, with half a length covering all of them. Cosmic Year dropped away tamely having looked a threat a furlong out.

Graffard said: “He’s a lovely horse and his form his strong. We decided to skip Ascot and I wanted the horse to be strong for this race and it worked out.

“He has a lot of speed and I think seven furlongs is the max for him. We’ll have to see what we do with him, whether we drop him back in distance or if we stick to seven, but it’s a big step up today. He’s a lovely horse with a great attitude and he’s improving physically.

“He was given a very good ride by Christophe and took the right lead all the time.”

He added: “Every time I have stepped him up in class he has responded well. I think if he was closer in the Djebel he would have been very dangerous and on that form and my belief I was not scared today.

“I’m so happy for John (Stewart) who is such a lovely, enthusiastic man for the industry and he has kept faith in me and let me do what I think is best for the horses and is rewarded today with a nice win.

“The Prix Maurice de Gheest could definitely be on the cards and I think he will be better dropped back in distance. I will see how he comes out of this but that could be a race we target.”

Meanwhile, the Bond Thoroughbreds team are relishing seeing Maranoa Charlie run on home soil at York after their recent purchase just failed to make all in the Group One feature.

Christopher Head won the Prix Djebel with Maranoa Charlie
Christopher Head trains Maranoa Charlie (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“It’s a great run to be second in a Group One, amazing. It was obviously a big purchase and it looks like we made the right choice,” Charlie Bond of Bond Thoroughbreds told Sky Sports Racing.

“It’s our first horse in France and the last time we were here Move In Time won the Prix de l’Abbaye (in 2014), so we like coming to France.

“Christopher trains him and we’ll follow his guidance. I think he comes home to York for the City of York Stakes and we always said that this was a good stepping stone to that race, but if Christopher decides something else, we will follow his guidance, it’s down to him, we don’t like to interfere.”

O’Brien was delighted to see The Lion In Winter bounce back to form.

He said: “The horse ran very well, we’re very happy. The Lion In Winter has a lot of speed. Now, we have two options, the Sussex Stakes or here in Deauville for the mile (Jaques le Marois).

Midak on a short break following Derby exertions

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Connections will seek to get Midak back on track later in the summer, where he could join a host of British raiders in Deauville for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the Aga Khan Studs-owned three-year-old created a taking impression when going unbeaten in his first three starts, earning an ambitious shot at the Derby at Epsom last month.

A poignant runner on the Downs in a race named in honour of the late Aga Khan IV, he was sent off at 9-1 before weakening in the closing stages and connections are now minded to miss next weekend’s Grand Prix de Paris to provide more time to recover from his Classic exertions.

“Physically he took his race fine at Epsom, but mentally he was quite fragile afterwards and it went to his head slightly,” explained Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France.

“There was thought in Francis’ head that he could run in the Grand Prix de Paris after Epsom but we just felt mentally he wasn’t going to be up to doing that on the back of the Derby. We’ve just had to back off him a bit as he’s a very big horse.

“It was quite a big ask of him to go to the Derby after only three starts and he took it quite well on the day but afterwards it has taken its toll on him a little bit.”

Both George Scott and Charlie Appleby have mooted the Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano on August 16 for Bay City Roller and 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court respectively and Midak could form a strong home defence in a race won last year by William Haggas’ Economics.

ParisLongchamp’s Prix du Prince d’Orange on September 14 – won last year by John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman – is another possibility, as the Aga Khan team look to a drop to 10 furlongs after trying a mile and a half at Epsom.

“There’s the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano for him at Deauville or if he needs a little bit more time there’s a couple of options in September like the Prix du Prince d’Orange, but the horse will guide us,” continued Routh.

“I don’t think we would go straight back to a mile and a half with him. In the Derby he travelled very well and was in the right position looking like he was going to run a huge race and then didn’t really quicken and the ground was probably a bit slow for him that day.

“Did he really get home, we’re not quite sure, so I think we’ll stick to a mile and a quarter race in France when the horse is ready.”

York one of the options being explored for rising star Daryz

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The Juddmonte International Stakes is “definitely an option” for the exciting Daryz, as connections search for the ideal route to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The regally-bred son of Sea The Stars impressively enhanced his unbeaten record in Saint-Cloud’s Prix Eugene Adam, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said to be “quite interested” on another York raid, having seen Calandagan chase home City Of Troy 12 months ago in a race since officially recognised as the best in the world.

“We’re slightly scratching our heads with Daryz and we would need to sit down with Princess Zahra as well as there are several options we can take with the horse,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France.

“I know Francis is quite interested in the idea of bringing him to the Juddmonte International and he’s obviously done very well over that trip and we’ve only ever run him him over a mile and a quarter, so it is the right trip for him.

“It would be a big ask as Sunday was only his fourth start, but he’s an improving horse and we’re really excited by him, he’s bred in the purple and a proper horse.”

Daryz entered the Arc picture after claiming the scalp of George Scott’s Bay City Roller at Saint-Cloud, with some firms going as short as 12-1 for Europe’s richest middle-distance prize.

And that race is firmly in connections’ thoughts as they also consider a long-established stepping stone closer to home ahead of the ParisLongchamp feature on October 5.

Routh added: “We have an eye on the Arc at the end of the year, but he needs to run before that and there’s several different races he could run in. He could have a traditional prep for the Arc in the Prix Niel or he could take in something like York.

“We’ll have to weigh everything up with him as he is still a little immature, but he’s improved with every race and York is definitely an option. We will just have to see what is the right option as we haven’t quite figured that out.”

With King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes-bound Calandagan also entered, Routh continued: “We would be very happy to have a runner in the race, we’re just not quite sure at this stage if it will be Daryz.

“It will come down to what the trainer thinks and what the owner thinks, but we wanted to have both Calandagan and Daryz entered for York to give us the option. We had a great time with Calandagan there last year and it’s a great track and the Juddmonte International a great race.”

Calandagan finally breaks Group One duck

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Calandagan claimed the elusive Group One success his connections craved with a decisive victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Second four times at the highest level since striking at Royal Ascot last summer, Francis-Henri Graffard’s four-year-old has locked horns with some of the best around, performing admirably up against the likes of City Of Troy and most recently Jan Brueghel at Epsom.

However, returned to home soil he proved a cut above the opposition in what appeared a stacked contest on paper, storming three and a half lengths clear of Christophe Ferland’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Aventure.

Calandagan is now 3-1 joint-favourite with his Epsom conqueror Jan Brueghel with Coral for a King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes rematch at Ascot on July 26.

Graffard said: “Well, he’s not ungenuine. The race went really well for him and I thought he was travelling much more into the rhythm of the race this time.

Mickael (Barzalona, jockey) said he still had to ask him to keep up sometimes during the race but then in the straight, when there is rhythm and he can follow the pace, he can really lengthen and quicken really strongly. I thought he was really impressive.

“After Epsom my first conclusion was that he needed the run probably against that horse on that ground that day. I thought he came on a lot for that and I think he’s gaining experience with his jockey knowing him better also.

“He’s never run a bad race and he’s either been beaten by a champion or circumstances. Today everything went his way and we saw how good he could be.

“I will obviously discuss the King George with connections, but he is entitled to go to Ascot, it is a place he has won before and I would like to take him there 100 per cent.”

Calandagan’s victory capped a fine afternoon for Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs team as they earlier watched Daryz remain unbeaten with an impressive display in the Prix Eugene Adam.

George Scott’s Bay City Roller can count himself unfortunate to bump into the exciting son of Sea The Stars, who after being shortened to just 14-1  for the Arc, could take a trip to York for the Juddmonte International Stakes later in the summer.

“We’ll take it step by step with Calandagan and the next race (at Ascot) is a big one. But if you want to talk about the Juddmonte International then that is a race I will put forwards for Daryz,” Graffard added to Sky Sports Racing.

“I will discuss with Princess Zahra where she would like to go, but I will probably make an entry for Daryz at York and he is a horse I like a lot. I need to make him tougher and give him experience and I think he will get that if he goes abroad.”

Arc emerges as ultimate target for Map Of Stars

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Map Of Stars will be pointed towards the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when he returns from a summer break, after pleasing connections with a respectable effort in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s four-year-old had made a fine start to the new campaign, winning his first two starts before going down narrowly by a neck when up against Andre Fabre’s Sosie in the Prix Ganay.

Sent off 13-2 for a red-hot Group One at the Royal meeting, he was not disgraced when fourth behind Ombudsman, with his team now deciding the time is right to step up in trip with Europe’s most prestigious middle-distance prize the ultimate aim in the autumn.

“We were not disappointed at all with him and with the French style of racing where they tend to go steady then sprint, he will never have gone as fast in his life as they went in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for Map Of Stars’ owners Wathnan Racing.

“He’s done very little wrong and he will have learned a lot from Ascot. He’s still a baby really and still growing up and will come forward from that mentally.

“He ran a solid race and I think we’ll give him a break now, he’s had four runs and we’ll come back for one of the Arc trials and step him up in distance.

“He’s bred for it, so we’ll run him in a trial and take a look at the Arc. I’m sure he’s going to get a mile and a half and I think he’s going to be better over that distance.

“If he is he’ll likely handle the likely soft ground and it’s the obvious race to target him at. Whether he will be good enough, who knows, but he’s got plenty of ability.”

Summer break for Zarigana before plans for rest of the year are made

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French 1000 Guineas heroine Zarigana is set for a summer break following her narrow defeat at Royal Ascot.

The Siyouni filly won four of her first five starts for Francis-Henri Graffard in the colours of the late Aga Khan, claiming Classic glory in the stewards’ room following the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches after first past the post Shes Perfect was demoted.

Zarigana was the hot favourite to claim another Group One victory in the Coronation Stakes, but after travelling strongly to the front, she was outfought by Joe Murphy’s surprise winner Cercene and beaten half a length at the line.

Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: “On the day we were a bit frustrated because she obviously came there to win her race and then stopped or tied up close home and the winner got back at her.

“She’s come back and she’s quite light and I think she needs a bit of a break. It was the first time she’d travelled, it was very hot and she’s quite a highly-strung filly and I think we’ll see if we can send her back to the stud for a summer break before coming back for the autumn.”

While connections will not rush to make any decisions regarding future targets for Zarigana, Routh wonders whether she could prove effective back over a shorter distance.

“She just does everything so easily and travels so well and quickens up very well, but she doesn’t really like being in front and then battling,” she added.

“It’s a question of delivering her very late and holding on to her, or is it a question that she’s not quite getting home in her races? The sire (Siyouni) was a very fast horse and a five-furlong two-year-old and I always thought he never quite got a mile, so it’s not impossible to think that you might consider dropping her back to seven furlongs. We’ll see.

“She’s had three proper races and it will just do her good to have a break both mentally and physically, relax a bit at stud and get her head down and think about other things.”

Another Aga Khan-owned and Graffard-trained filly to go close at the Royal meeting was Rayevka, who justified the team’s decision to supplement her for Friday’s Commonwealth Cup with an excellent effort to finish a close-up third.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Royal Ascot
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Routh said: “She ran an absolute cracker and she conversely took her race very well.

“She’s a very solid filly and a real sprinting type. There’s not a huge amount of options for her, but we have got her entered in the Maurice de Gheest and the way she finished out her race we don’t think another half-furlong will be problematic for her.

“We’ve always held her in high regard so we might take a look at that, but the ground would need to be good as she loves good, fast ground.”

The Aga Khan’s improving stayer Candelari was considered a leading Gold Cup contender, but he was ultimately disappointing in finishing sixth and Routh added: “I think it was just a big ask for him. He didn’t have as much experience as the other horses in the race, everything had happened so quickly for him this year and racing in France is not the same as those races, particularly the Gold Cup which is such a test.

“The winner (Trawlerman) is such a seasoned horse and went such a pace I think it just found him out. Mickael (Barzalona) said he was actually travelling well, but when they quickened up seven furlongs from home the horse was a bit lost.

“He’s going to have a break now. If we have an Indian summer we could consider races like the Prix du Cadran in the autumn, but I think in the back of our heads we’re all thinking he’s a horse for the Dubai Gold Cup next year.”

Graffard taking the positives as Zarigana suffers Coronation reverse

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Francis-Henri Graffard was left frustrated but determined to take the positives after Zarigana was outfought in a Coronation Stakes thriller at Royal Ascot.

A granddaughter of the Aga Khan super mare Zarkava, Zarigana arrived at the Royal meeting looking to enhance her lofty reputation after winning the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, albeit via the stewards’ room, at ParisLongchamp last month.

However, the 6-4 favourite met a determined rival in Joseph Murphy’s Cercene and despite edging ahead close home, gave back that advantage with a little interest in the dying strides as the raiding French team had to settle for second on this occasion.

“I need to buy a pair of blinkers, probably,” quipped Graffard to questions about Zarigana’s attitude late in the day.

“It was very interesting what the jockey (Mickael Barzalona) said, he said she travelled really nicely, easily on the bridle, but as soon as she hit the front she completely changed in her attitude and threw her head up.

“It’s very frustrating, but we try our best with her. She’s a very talented filly and she didn’t disgrace herself. You always think you can win easily and she has the ability to win easily, but we didn’t get the job done today.”

After suffering only the second defeat of her career, connections were refusing to be too downhearted, with the regally-bred filly one of two for the Graffard-Aga Khan Stud team to hit the crossbar in Friday’s Group One events.

Graffard added: “I am lucky she is owned by a fantastic breeding operation and she has earned her place there. We don’t need to put a pair of blinkers on her – she has earned her place at stud. She has a lot of ability and she will produce fantastic stock that will come here and beat everybody.

“It’s very hard to be competitive here, firstly, and to win here is even harder. You come with very talented horses, but today I think we can’t complain. We have two fillies placed in Group Ones (Zarigana and Rayevka in the Commonwealth Cup) and they earned their places at stud, and so for the operation it is very positive.”

Back in third was Aidan O’Brien’s January, who after twice chasing home 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower as a two-year-old was back to her best following a below-par return in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last month.

“She ran OK, it was a little bit messy early, the race, but Ryan said she ran well, so we’re happy and we think she will come forward a little bit.

“Maybe one of the fillies’ races at Newmarket will be next for her, something like that.”

Zarigana team content with Coronation choice

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Zarigana is on course for a trip to Royal Ascot after connections resisted the temptation to bid for a Classic double in this weekend’s Prix de Diane in favour of a tilt at the Coronation Stakes.

Successful on three of her first four starts for Francis-Henri Graffard in the colours of the late Aga Khan, the Siyouni filly passed the post second to the Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect in the French 1000 Guineas, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, before being promoted to first by the stewards.

Zarigana could have taken on Shes Perfect again in the French Oaks at Chantilly on Sunday, but she will instead stick to a mile on the penultimate day of the Royal meeting next week.

Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said: “The trainer was very keen to run Zarigana in Ascot. We obviously did consider the Prix de Diane because I think she relaxed a lot more last time and she seems to be gaining maturity in her races, so it did become more of an option to consider the Diane for her.

“But I think Francis has trained her more to race over a mile in this first part of the season, that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t stretch her out later in the year. I think he felt it was always part of the programme that he had set aside for her that she would go to Royal Ascot after the Pouliches, especially as we had other fillies for the Diane.

“Zarigana is due to have her last piece of work tomorrow (Thursday) morning. She worked last week and is in good form, so provided all goes well tomorrow, I imagine it’s all systems go for Royal Ascot.”

In Zarigana’s absence, the Aga Khan’s team will be doubly represented in the Prix de Diane Longines, with French Guineas third Mandanaba carrying the colours of the late owner’s daughter Princess Zahra and Listed scorer Cankoura also in the mix.

Routh added: “Principally I think His Highness and Princess Zahra identify themselves as breeders who like to race their horses, and having fillies that are capable of running well in this race is one of our principal objectives of the year.

“We love to have fillies that can perform at the top level, the Prix de Diane is a race His Highness loved to have runners in and obviously he holds the record for the winning-most owner, and all of those fillies were bred by him as well.

“It’s a very special race for our organisation and we’re very happy to have two runners this year in the two different silks’.”