Latest news with #Graffard
France 24
4 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Midak bids to deliver poignant victory in 'Aga Khan's' Derby
Adding to the potential for a fairytale, Midak is prominent French trainer Francis Graffard's first runner in the race considered to be the 'blue riband' of flat racing. The Aga Khan, for decades a leading owner/breeder of thoroughbreds and whose grandfather Aga Khan III also won the Derby five times, died aged 88 in February. Graffard, 48, says it is coincidental the "historic" Aga Khan colours, of green top with red epaulettes and a green cap will be represented. Midak impressed Graffard so much he persuaded Aga Khan Studs to pay £75,000 ($101,500) to supplement him on Monday for the race. "When I came up with the idea of entering him I did not know it was being renamed in his honour," he told AFP in a phone interview. "Circumstances have colluded, it is great. "So it makes me even more excited. Definitely makes the fact Midak is running even more special. "They are prestigious and historic racing colours." Graffard said triumphing at his first attempt would be magical for the Aga Khan's family. "Yes, you dream about these days," he said. "However, we know how hard it is to win Group One races, especially a Derby. "It is my first runner in the race, we will learn plenty of things and hopefully come back in the future." He will face 18 rivals as he bids to become only the fourth French winner of the Derby in the past 60 years -- the greatest of them all, Sea Bird, triumphing in 1965. Graffard has won one classic for Aga Khan Studs this season, Zarigana benefitting from Shes Perfect's disqualification in the French 1000 Guineas, prompting unsavoury behaviour from the latter's owners who yelled "It's a joke" at the Aga Khan's daughter Princess Zahra as she was interviewed. 'Little bit crazy' Graffard, 54, has been heavily involved in the racing operation for many years. Although he was assistant trainer for a couple of years to Alain de Royer Dupre, the Aga's principal trainer until he retired in 2021, his encounters with him were rare. "No, unfortunately I only met him twice," said Graffard. "I would have loved to have gone racing with him and learned from his experience. "However, Princess Zahra is very experienced and it is really interesting to make plans with her." This teamwork has resulted in them entering Midak and pitting their wits against Delacroix -- bidding to give Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien a record-extending 11th winner -- and father/son partnership John and Thady Gosden's Damysus. Midak might never have even been a contender given that Graffard at one point considered gelding, or castrating, him -- geldings are barred from running in the Derby -- owing to his "tricky temperament". "He was really difficult to train," said Graffard. "But I decided I would take him to the races before I resorted to (gelding) and see how he fared. "In his second race at Chantilly he was very green and jumped the road crossing the track, but he ended up winning nicely." Things went smoother on his last start, winning the Group Three Prix Greffulhe, the same race that Pour Moi, France's last winner of the Derby in 2011, also captured. "He ran much more professionally," said Graffard. "He is basically improving all the time." Graffard says this season has only underlined that he made the right decision in opting to become a trainer rather than pursuing a career as a lawyer. "It is a little bit crazy to think in the next fortnight we have two runners at Epsom then the Prix Diane and after that Royal Ascot," he said. "It is the dream job." © 2025 AFP
South China Morning Post
26-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘Amazing' Goliath ready to rumble ahead of QE II Cup battle
Francis-Henri Graffard believes his 'amazing' Goliath can gain some revenge against Japanese opposition in a Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) loaded with internationals at Sha Tin on Sunday. French trainer Graffard enjoyed a stellar 2024 with Goliath, who produced a scintillating performance to beat subsequent Group One Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) winner Bluestocking and Group One Breeders' Cup Turf (2,400m) victor Rebel's Romance in the Group One King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot (2,400m) last July. He backed that up with a win in the Group Two Prix du Conseil de Paris (2,200m) before being left frustrated by an extremely slow pace in the Group One Japan Cup (2,400m), where he wasn't able to land a blow. Graffard arrived in Hong Kong just hours before Goliath's Friday morning work and was very pleased by what he saw. 'He looked great – a bit light,' said Graffard. 'He lost a bit of weight during transport but he's back on his feed now. He looked well under the saddle on the track, my team here are very happy with him, so I'm pleased. Wow! Goliath produces a superb performance to land the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at @Ascot for @CSoumillon and @GraffardRacing... — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 27, 2024 'We questioned ourselves about coming here in December after Japan, but it was his first long journey and we knew we had a strong season to look forward to this year. We didn't want to upset him too much so we decided to build the season by starting here in April. 'The idea was to go to Japan last time and get a good pace, but we were stuck on the rail and it went against my horse on the day. He still managed to run decently so we weren't too disappointed – it was always the plan to drop him in distance to start the season.' The question of whether the 2,000m distance will be enough for the long-striding Goliath has been much debated, but Graffard is confident lightening will not strike twice and he will get the pace he needs to pounce. Plenty of that belief is due to jockey Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon, who has partnered Goliath in his last three runs. That can be no surprise, as Soumillon has been sensational across the globe – winning 121 races in Hong Kong, including the Group One Hong Kong Mile on two occasions. 'He should get a pace – and when he gets a pace he's a very impressive horse,' said Graffard. 'When things go his way, like everyone saw in the King George, he's an amazing horse. 'Christophe knows the horse well, he nearly went forward to lead in the Japan Cup but he didn't have the chance. Anything is possible with him, he's not a difficult ride but he's tricky. 'It's a long season so I don't want him to be too strong in front – I would much prefer to see him finish well.' This year's QE II Cup is a truly international affair, with six of the 11-strong field coming from France, Japan, Bahrain and New Zealand. Last year's second Prognosis, Tastiera and Liberty Island make up a strong Japanese contingent and although aware of the task, Graffard believes his horse has what it takes to gain a small bit of revenge after his frustrating Japan Cup run. 'Everywhere we go in the world now, it seems the main opposition is Japanese horses,' said Graffard. 'They have unbelievable breeds and fantastic racehorses. 'We'll see how it goes, but I have a lot of belief in my horse. When he's at his best and everything goes his way, he's a very good horse.' Goliath has gained a fan club for his fascinating stringhalt gait, a neurological condition that sees him exaggerate his action on his hind legs. The condition is clearly no hindrance, though it has given the trainer some heart-stopping moments. 'I remember at Royal Ascot in the paddock he was doing it with both legs and I was like 'oh my God',' said Graffard. 'When he canters and accelerates, he's impressive. 'The mechanics are good, it's just at his walk. Sometimes he does it and sometimes he doesn't – it's why he's such a personality.'
