The next Zarkava? Introducing the filly bred from Arc royalty who could continue her trainer's remarkable year
Francis Graffard talks to Scott Burton about his amazing run of success and Zarkava's exciting granddaughter Zarigana
As the biggest weekend of the racing year in France approaches, there is palpable excitement around the twin yards run by Francis Graffard, although the talk is not of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. At least not this year's.
Graffard has enjoyed a landmark season, his 13th full year with a licence and his third in charge of the Aga Khan's Aiglemont training yard, from where he sent out his main patron's sixth winner of the French 1,000 Guineas, Rouhiya, as well as a dominant Royal Ascot winner in Calandagan.
The following month, on July 14 – France's 'Fete Nationale' or to give it its more globally recognisable name, Bastille Day – Zarigana made a deeply impressive debut at Chantilly in a newcomers' race.
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- It's been a quarter of a century since we started - here's how we've seen the sport we love change
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
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- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’