ENGLISH TEXTS
by British and Irish trained two year olds who won five of the six Prix Morny’ s and Prix de la Salamandre between 1995 and 2000. However we are in the same place today even with the later dates, whereas it is also obvious that in 2025, as was the case in 1995, those who train the best two year olds prefer to race them on good ground in September rather than on heavy ground at the end of October. Of the last twenty Prix de la Salamandres eighteen were run on good ground, two on very soft or heavy ground, and the reverse is true of the last twenty Criterium International with eighteen run on very soft or heavy ground and only two, Puerto Rico’ s win in 2025 and Mount Nelson’ s in 2006, on good ground. It makes no sense to expect the trainers of the best two year olds in France to race them on heavy or very soft ground at the end of October, particularly in the modern world when there are alternative races on psf for future Classic prospects to run in. Andre Fabre who won the Salamandre with the Champions Xaar, Pennekamp and Zafonic, has not won the Criterium International since 2007, and it is probably no coincidence that neither of his two Criterium International winners, Carlotamix and Thewayyouare were able to win a Group race as three year olds. In the end the program has to be designed to shape the population, rather than to reflect the current one. If France Galop would like to see French trained two year olds compete successfully in France’ s Group 1 races it is time to admit the twenty five year trial has not worked, to bring back the Prix de la Salamndre and build, or rebuild, a two year program around it.
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FRANCIS-HENRI GRAFFARD ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
BY KATHERINE FORD
He is the greatest trainer in France, in Europe and in the world in 2025. Francis-Henri Graffard has written a new page in racing history with his French record of 14 Group 1 victories in a single season and his masterful triumph in a Japan Cup that many believed was the locals’ private preserve.
Among the elite of his profession for several years now, Francis-Henri Graffard reached a new level in 2025. Leading the French professional rankings with more than € 10 million in earnings, he won almost as much abroad with prestigious victories at the Breeders’ Cup, Ascot, Baden- Baden, and of course Tokyo. These successful international challenges reflect the trainer’ s ambitious vision. Before Calandagan’ s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Francis-Henri Graffard explained:“ Any experience abroad is important. French racing is very tactical, and there aren’ t many runners, so the horses don’ t learn much.” A rule that applies to humans as well:“ I like to challenge myself against the best. It doesn’ t work every time, but in this profession, experience counts for a lot. You have to trust the horses and not be afraid to take on challenges.” Determined, humble, and ap- proachable, the trainer has built his career as he builds those of his trainees, leaving nothing to chance. Born in Burgundy, he discovered racing thanks to his grandfather, who owned a farm with cows and a few broodmares and jumpers. He recalled this five years ago in a Sky Sports Racing feature:“ My grandfather is the one who introduced me to racing. I was hooked immediately. One unforgettable memory from that time is a win in a very small race at Paray-le-Monial, with a horse I had known as a foal at my grandparents’ place. I really felt something that day. I had no connection at all to the top level. We watched the Arc as a family, so we were interested, but from afar. I always wanted to be a trainer, but I had no way into the industry. My father is a lawyer, and I wanted to go to university and discover something else. I studied law, but I realized that racing was my passion. I wanted to travel, and I told myself: a law degree will allow me to become a good lawyer in Lyon, but racing will allow me to meet important people and discover the world. I always dreamed big …” The dream began to take shape when Francis dared to apply for Godolphin’ s Flying Start program before he even spoke English well:“ I had memorized sentences for the interview and pretended to speak fluent English! They realized I wasn’ t fluent, but they gave me a chance anyway!” During the Flying Start, he discovered the highest level of the racing world, met his wife Lisa Jane— now an essential member of Team Graffard— and began pushing boundaries. Today, there are no more boundaries. Europe’ s
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