Ahead of the publication of his hotly-anticipated stable tour tomorrow, Francis-Henri Graffard (pictured, © Scoop Dyga) here is a sneak preview on his two runners at Chantilly this afternoon to Race Sharp readers.
Graffard has his yard in fine form ahead of the Classic Trials and had a great day at the office last Saturday with The Revenant winning a Group Three easily and Anne De Cleves grabbing black type in behind Agave.
Speaking to Race Sharp on Sunday, Graffard sounded particularly keen on his three-year-old Classic hope, L’Astronome.
4.37pm L’Astronome
3yo colt (Frankel x Tymora)
A promising son of Frankel entered in the Prix de Jockey Club, he is a maiden having finished as a runner-up to Epic Poet on debut, who is Classic-entered himself and hasn’t been seen since. 11/8 in the betting this morning with Fitzdares.
Graffard said:
He’s a big hope and a lovely horse. I always wanted to run him in this maiden at Chantilly and he can hopefully be a Prix du Jockey Club horse. That may not happen, of course, but for the moment I can say that he is very good-looking and works well.
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5.45pm Tangut
5yo mare (Alderflug x Tucana)
A €640,000 purchase from the Arqana breeding sale last year, Tangut is from the close family of shock Prix de l’Arc winner Torquator Tasso and finished as the runner-up in the Italian St Leger at Rome when last seen in November (replay available here). 12-1 in the betting this morning with Fitzdares.
Graffard said:
Tangut was identified by my wife as the mare of the sale last year, with a fantastic pedigree and potential to improve still. Our plan is to try to win a Listed race with her and she’s a lovely filly. She is a little difficult to place but there are a few Listed contests restricted to mares over 2800m.
