
Jean-Claude Rouget back in the big time courtesy of Leffard
Ryan Moore and Trinity College had tracked Frankly Good Cen before switching out and showing a smart turn of foot, one that looked like it would seal matters. That was not counting for Leffard, however, and he too picked up in great style when asked to leave the pair battling out.
What a moment for Jean-Claude Rouget! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BpenHlgIGC
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 13, 2025
After the shortest of waits, Leffard – who holds an Arc entry – was announced the winner, putting a below-par effort in the Prix du Jockey Club – in which Trinity College had been fourth before winning at Royal Ascot – behind him and fully justifying the decision to supplement for the Paris showpiece.
Rouget told Sky Sports Racing: 'It was fantastic when I saw the horse coming. I was very confident there was not a big difference between the two (Leffard and Trinity College).
'I knew he was very good, but I had to find a new confidence in him (after the Prix du Jockey-Club). He was so well this week and the field was not tremendous I decided to supplement him. When I saw six runners, it was possible to be third and we did better.
'I think yes (he is an Arc horse), because when I bought him I was sure I bought a good horse.
It's a big fairytale, life continues and we do other things.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Leader Live
11 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Calandagan rules supreme for France in King George
Francis-Henri Graffard's gelding was bidding to keep the trophy in the Chantilly yard after Goliath prevailed 12 months ago, with his key rival seemingly Aidan O'Brien's Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel, who had edged the Aga Khan Studs-owned four-year-old at Epsom. Calandagan was the well-backed 11-10 favourite to turn the tables and after an incredibly patient ride from Mickael Barzalona he swept through to pick off all of his rivals and pass the gallant Kalpana ahead of the line for a one-length triumph. It is the fifth time the race has been won by a horse carrying the green and red silks, with Shergar the most famous of the those winners after prevailing for the fourth Aga Khan, who died in February this year at the age of 88. THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 'I am so pleased for the horse, it was a competitive race,' said Graffard. 'The tactics during the race were not what I was expecting, when I saw Continuous going very steadily it was all different. 'When the filly (Kalpana) kicked on for home my horse was still travelling well, I was hoping he was going to catch her at the end. He lengthened so strongly, he's a very good horse. 'I wanted to see my horse getting into his rhythm and lengthening his stride, when I really saw him coming I started to shout. 'He won nicely again today, he's a good horse, that's two in row now in Group Ones. 'Mickael knows him very well and he has a lot confidence in the horse. You saw the ride he gave him, he had a lot of confidence and he won – we are so happy.'


Glasgow Times
40 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Calandagan rules supreme for France in King George
Francis-Henri Graffard's gelding was bidding to keep the trophy in the Chantilly yard after Goliath prevailed 12 months ago, with his key rival seemingly Aidan O'Brien's Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel, who had edged the Aga Khan Studs-owned four-year-old at Epsom. Calandagan was the well-backed 11-10 favourite to turn the tables and after an incredibly patient ride from Mickael Barzalona he swept through to pick off all of his rivals and pass the gallant Kalpana ahead of the line for a one-length triumph. It is the fifth time the race has been won by a horse carrying the green and red silks, with Shergar the most famous of the those winners after prevailing for the fourth Aga Khan, who died in February this year at the age of 88. THE FRENCH RAIDER HAS DONE IT! 🇫🇷 CALANDAGAN WINS THE KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 'I am so pleased for the horse, it was a competitive race,' said Graffard. 'The tactics during the race were not what I was expecting, when I saw Continuous going very steadily it was all different. 'When the filly (Kalpana) kicked on for home my horse was still travelling well, I was hoping he was going to catch her at the end. He lengthened so strongly, he's a very good horse. 'I wanted to see my horse getting into his rhythm and lengthening his stride, when I really saw him coming I started to shout. 'He won nicely again today, he's a good horse, that's two in row now in Group Ones. 'Mickael knows him very well and he has a lot confidence in the horse. You saw the ride he gave him, he had a lot of confidence and he won – we are so happy.'


The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Fitzella fits the bill for Hugo Palmer in Princess Margaret
This time she was the 9-4 favourite under Oisin Murphy, and took up the running early on to set a good pace from the front. As the race developed the contenders behind her attempted to close, but the daughter of Too Darn Hot was well able to keep her head in front to claim an eventual one-length win from George Scott's Staya. Oisin Murphy returns victorious aboard Fitzella (John Walton/PA) Palmer said: 'Oisin was very upset when he came in from the Albany as he felt he sat too close to a very strong pace, he did realise and took back but the damage was already kind of done by then. 'We felt on reflection that it was her class that allowed her to finish fourth on that occasion. 'She was probably drawn on the wrong side of the track that day as well and today the plan was to hold her up and race more patiently and use her finish. 'She pinged the lids and Oisin had to go straight to plan B and it worked very nicely. He didn't go hard and of course she's very exciting. 'She was an expensive yearling but has always been beautiful and still is and I'm delighted she's a Group winner now. 'I've only watched it once so I don't know how tough Oisin has had to be on her. She was very game and very willing which is what she has been at home since the get-go. I'm delighted today, but just sad she's not a Royal Ascot winner.' A great attitude shown! Fitzella battles hard to strike in the Princess Margaret Stakes at @Ascot for @oismurphy and @hpalmerracing… — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025 Coral made Fitzella a 25-1 chance for next May's 1000 Guineas, but more immediate in Palmer's thoughts is the Breeders' Cup, with a trip to France a possibility before crossing the Atlantic to Del Mar in November. Palmer continued: 'She's shown great gate speed today and the Breeders' Cup would definitely be on the radar, she will definitely run again and possibly twice, but I wouldn't think more than that. 'It's her fourth start of the year and I wouldn't want her to have many more than five or six runs. 'She has a Moyglare entry, but that is a very stiff seven furlongs and I would have thought the Prix du Calvados at Deauville may be the right option, it's a month away. She wouldn't want soft ground though, so we will have to see what the weather brings.'