Latest news with #Francis-HenriGraffard
ITV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
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. '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.'
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Sport
- 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
4 days ago
- Sport
- 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.'
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
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.
South Wales Argus
06-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Midak on a short break following Derby exertions
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.'
