Mickael Barzalona to leave Godolphin and become retained rider to the Aga Khan in France from 2025

Mickael Barzalona will trade in royal blue for emerald green after it was announced he will become retained jockey in France to the Aga Khan from the start of next year.

The Aga Khan has operated without a number one rider since terminating a contract with Christophe Soumillon in October 2022, with Barzalona a frequent port of call along with Maxime Guyon and Stephane Pasquier.

Barzalona will be aboard the highly rated Zarigana in Sunday's Prix Marcel Boussac, having already ridden her to bloodless victories in a Chantilly maiden and the Group 3 Prix d'Aumale over the same course and distance of a mile at Longchamp last month.

In addition he won the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte aboard Candala and sealed Listed success on Shamarkand, with all three stakes victories coming for Francis Graffard, who is His Highness's principal trainer in France.

Pasquier rode Calandagan to victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot and again when chasing home City Of Troy in the International at York, while Guyon landed the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches with Rouhiya.

Barzalona's move to join the Aga Khan team brings an end to a long association with Godolphin. He has occupied the role of first jockey to Sheikh Mohammed's operation in France since returning from a stint in Newmarket in the middle of 2014.

Mickael Barzalona throws his whip in the air after Talismanic's win in the Breeders' Cup TurfCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Now 33, Barzalona first found success with Godolphin as he came through the ranks with Andre Fabre, notching two Group 2 victories at the 2011 Dubai Carnival as a 19-year-old, before winning the Derby at Epsom for Fabre and Coolmore in June of that year with Pour Moi. He landed the Dubai World Cup aboard Monterosso the following year.

Barzalona spent two years with Godolphin in Newmarket before returning to the French wing of the operation, and will be aboard recent Prix du Moulin winner Tribalist in the all blue in Sunday's Group 1 Prix de la Foret.

Godolphin managing director Hugh Anderson said: "Mickael has been a mainstay of the Godolphin team for over 12 years and we want to thank him for his outstanding contribution to our racing success internationally.

"He has ridden many Group 1 winners for us across Europe and in Dubai and always shown immense talent and professionalism as a top-class jockey. He has grown up with Godolphin and of course we are sorry to see him go but we wish him every success in his next venture where he is sure to flourish."

Barzalona's biggest international success with Godolphin and Fabre came when steering Talismanic to Breeders' Cup Turf glory at Del Mar in 2017, while he was champion jockey in France in 2021.

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