Tag Archive for: Mickael Barzalona

Hollie Doyle enjoys joint-second place in Hong Kong jockeys’ challenge

Britain’s Hollie Doyle finished an honourable joint-second behind runaway winner Mickael Barzalona in the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Victory in the third leg on board Soleil Fighter earned Doyle 12 points and despite failing to score in any of the other three races, that was enough to see her finish best of the rest alongside New Zealand’s James McDonald.

However, French rider Barzalona was streets ahead on 30 points following wins on Sergeant Pepper and Aurora Lady in the first and fourth legs, plus a second place in race two behind McDonald’s mount Prince Alex.

Mickael Barzalona celebrates his Happy Valley success
Mickael Barzalona celebrates his Happy Valley success (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Ireland’s Colin Keane was fourth with 10 points thanks to a couple of placed efforts, while William Buick finished sixth in the table.

Doyle became the first female jockey to win a leg of the prestigious challenge event in 2020, when finishing tied for third overall, and was the IJC runner-up 12 months later.

The 28-year-old was clearly a favourite among the fans at Happy Valley and her supporters were celebrating when she scored by a neck on the David Haynes-trained Soleil Fighter.

“I think David gave me my first winner in the Longines IJC, so it’s nice to get him another one,” said Doyle. “The horse was very tough; he does need things to fall right, but they did.”

Hollie Doyle winning at Happy Valley on Soleil Fighter
Hollie Doyle winning at Happy Valley on Soleil Fighter (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Barzalona became the third French rider to lift the trophy following Christophe Lemaire (2009) and Olivier Peslier (1998 and 2006).

Going to post for the final leg, four other jockeys were in with a chance of at least matching his tally at that point, but he made sure of topping the table with a decisive victory on the Pierre Ng-trained Aurora Lady, despite having to start out wide from stall 12.

“Pierre was quite confident in Aurora Lady’s chances after he disappointed at Sha Tin last time when things didn’t work out,” said Barzalona.

“He’s been unlucky a couple of times recently and given we were drawn wide, he told me to try to get forward, as long as they didn’t go mad early on. I trusted my horse and he didn’t let me down.”

 



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Mickael Barzalona appointed number one rider for the Aga Khan

Mickael Barzalona has been appointed as the retained jockey for the Aga Khan Studs in 2025.

Barzalona, champion jockey in France in 2021, sprang to prominence when winning the Derby at Epsom in 2011 on Pour Moi for Andre Fabre.

His partnership with Fabre in the intervening years has proved fruitful for both, with the rider also being used regularly by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation.

This season he has been used frequently by Francis-Henri Graffard and has ridden the exciting Zarigana, owned by the stud, to victory in both her races. He maintains that partnership in Sunday’s Prix Marcel Boussac. Graffard trains a large string in the green and red silks.

A statement read: “The Aga Khan Studs are pleased to announce the appointment of Mickael Barzalona as first jockey for their French-trained horses from the start of 2025.

“Winner of the Cravache d’Or in 2021, Barzalona is once again in contention for the leading French jockey title this season.

“In 2024 he has carried the green and red colours to success on Candala in the Group Three Prix de la Grotte, as well as Shamarkand in his Listed victory. He also rode Zarigana to win the Group Three Prix d’Aumale last month, and will partner the daughter of Siyouni once again in Sunday’s Group One Prix Marcel Boussac.”



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Silver Lady upsets stablemate English Rose at Meydan

Godolphin won the Group Two Cape Verdi at Meydan yet again – but not with the filly many expected, as Silver Lady held off her stablemate English Rose.

Both fillies are trained by Charlie Appleby but English Rose, the mount of William Buick, was a red-hot favourite given she headed into the contest on the back of winning both her starts at Newmarket and Kempton.

Silver Lady also won a Newmarket maiden but since then had run in Pattern company without success, with a third place in a Listed race at York on her second start the best she had managed in three subsequent outings.

She appeared to be regressing with racing, having finished last of 11 on her latest outing, but the daughter of Sea The Stars was rejuvenated by Mickael Barzalona.

Brought with a run with over a furlong to run, she took over from Shining Jewel and Hugo Palmer’s Stenton Glider, but English Rose was a persistent challenger on her outside.

Silver Lady managed to hold on, however, prevailing by a neck, with Stenton Glider fending off Nibras Angel for third.

Appleby was winning the race for the fifth time in six years, while Barzalona said: “She has a bit of temperament but I took her down steady and she settled well.

“During the race, the first part was pretty rough but when I found my position, she was able to take a big breath and she picked up well.

“I could feel my filly was not getting tired but William came pretty easily beside me. I think my filly showed a good attitude, I think the Balanchine will be next.”



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