The Race Sharp Stable Tour series from Chantilly continues with Francis-Henri Graffard (pictured, © Scoopdyga), who has a progressed through the training ranks at incredible speed to win Classics, Group Ones at Royal Ascot and now land the job as primary trainer to the Aga Khan.

The Frenchman can seemingly do it all. He’s won the Prix de Diane with an €18,000 yearling, run second at the Breeders’ Cup with Malavath and won big races including the Coronation Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the German Derby.

“A good horse can come from anywhere” is a mantra of Francis-Henri’s that we certainly share!

Races including the Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will hopefully follow in the near future and it certainly wouldn’t come as a surprise to us if some of the horses below can explode onto the scene following maiden victories.

Here are the horses that caught our attention, listed in order of age:

 

The Revenant

7yo gelding (Dubawi x Hazel Lavery)

He was a big favourite on Saturday and so we were under pressure! He was very relaxed at the races, so I’m not sure he really needs his hood. He showed a great turn of foot to win, as he was quite far back with 500m to go.

He is great in his mind and he will have a good season. I think the nine furlongs of the Prix d’Ispahan will be no problem for him but he’s also entered in the Lockinge at Newbury. The ground won’t necessarily dictate his next races but I won’t risk him on a very fast surface.

 

Big Five

5yo gelding (Frankel x Louvain)

He’s been frustrating as he injured himself in his last race at Chantilly last year. He’s now back in full work and touch wood he will be fine. He’s a top stayer and a very, very good horse.

The program is all open for him and so we can start him in conditions races at the beginning of May and then go for a conditions race at ParisLongchamp over 2800m.

He will be aimed at the Autumn and he won’t be risked on fast ground. My long-term ambition is the 2023 Ascot Gold Cup.

 

Hurricane Dream

5yo gelding (Hurricane Cat x Shalimara)

He is in top form and runs in the Group Two Prix d’Harcourt on Sunday. After that he might go to America for a Group One.

If we don’t travel overseas with him, I think he’d be more a horse for the Prix d’Ispahan over nine furlongs than the Prix Ganay. He didn’t stay on his last run of 2021 when beaten at Lyon-Parilly.

 

Ebaiyra

5yo mare (Distorted Humor x Ebiyza)

She is entered in the Prix Zarkava on Sunday and I am very pleased with her. She looks very strong and her other option is the Prix Allez France. She is a ten-furlong filly.

For fillies, I think four-years-old is the hardest age but after that they mature and fully know their job. Good three-year-old fillies end up having a season of tough races and that’s why I asked for her to stay in training for another season.

Afterwards, there is a good race for her in New York. Her main target is the Group One Prix Jean Romanet.

 

Tangut

5yo mare (Alderflug x Tucana)

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.

 

Bois d’Argent

5yo gelding (Toronado x Madonna Lily)

He’s lovely, with a good stride and cruising speed. He was very immature last year but looks fantastic now. He has a great stride and we are now settled on a mile for his best trip.

He makes his seasonal reappearance on Saturday at Lyon-La-Soie and will be a fun horse this year. A race like the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot might be ideal for him.

 

Dilawar

5yo gelding (Dubawi x Dolniya)

I pulled him out of The Revenant’s Group Three because I thought the ground might be too soft but in the end it wasn’t. He’s another gelding I can travel with and he could also be interesting. I think he will return over nine furlongs in a Listed at ParisLongchamp.

 

Sealiway

4yo colt (Galiway x Kensea)

Sealiway’s main target is the Prix Ganay. His race on Sunday in the Prix d’Harcourt will be a reintroduction to races after a bad experience in the Saudi Cup. He’s a busy horse and surprised Ryan Moore by jumping out so quickly in that race, doing too much in the early stages.

If he comes out of the Prix Ganay well, he could then run in races like the Prince of Wales’ Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes.

His owner would love to go for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the autumn.

 

Influx

5yo gelding (Golden Horn x Steel Princess)

He has been gelded and had a good comeback. He could be an interesting stayer in the making and I’ll try to find easy conditions races for him to start his season. He’s very good looking.

 

Dolia

4yo mare (Invincible Spirit x Dolniya)

She’s a lovely filly. She’s very strong. She runs tomorrow in a very strong conditions race at Saint-Cloud and I think a mile will be her trip.

 

Martial Eagle

4yo colt (Martial Eagle x Montezuma)

A very, very nice horse. I have no other races for him to start off this season apart from the Classe 2 at Nantes this Saturday. Similar races at Lyon-Parilly and ParisLongchamp are closed to him.

He’s a soft ground horse and I think ten furlongs is his best trip.

 

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Malavath

3yo filly (Mehmas x Fidaaha)

She is ready to go and is a lovely filly. She runs in the Prix Imprudence today and hopefully the ground won’t be too soft for her. She is very smart and just does enough.

Depending on her return, she might go for either the Pouliches or the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

 

Know Thyself

3yo filly (Galileo x Fix)

She is well-bred and the aim is to get black type.

 

Emirates

3yo filly (Solider Hollow x Exotic Rose)

A full sister to Es La Vida and Emoji, she will stay ten furlongs and first the aim is to win a race with her.

 

Saturne

3yo filly (Muharaar x Straight Lass)

She goes for a Classe 2 at ParisLongchamp over 1300m.

 

L’Astronome

3yo colt (Frankel x Tymora)

He’s a big hope and a lovely horse. I always wanted to run him in the maiden at Chantilly yesterday (pictured here winning on the far side, © Scoopdyga).

He is very good-looking and works well.

 

Demarcay

3yo colt (Postponed x Europium)

He won his maiden and now goes for a conditions race at Saint-Cloud or Lyon-Parilly.

He’s a big galloping horse and is a stayer.

 

Rozgar

3yo colt (Exceed And Excel x Roshanara)

He was second at Fontainebleau but I think I got his trip wrong. He runs over seven furlongs at Deauville today and is nearly a sprinter. He’s interesting.

 

Blue Boat

3yo colt (Frankel x Blue Waltz)

He’s a big hope for me.

He will run in the Prix Machado and is a nice horse.

 

Anne De Cleves

3yo filly (Wootton Bassett x Alcandre)

She placed behind Agave last Saturday and is an improving filly from a last-maturing filly. She will have a break now and will come back in the summer, when she could win a Listed race.

 

Dalmar

3yo colt (Siyouni x Daltama)

He’s in full training but hasn’t been tested yet.

 

Samahram

3yo filly (Sea The Moon x Djumama)

She’s one I like and won easily on debut, despite not having done much work.

 

Safaria

3yo filly (Dubawi x Flotilla)

She’s a big filly and is loved by her riders. She could be a staying prospect but needs time.

 

Wien

3yo filly (Frankel x Wadyhatta)

I love this filly and she nearly made the track last year.

 

Tabarin

3yo colt (Frankel x Mare Nostrum)

He’s a nice prospect and could run soon.

 

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