Europe
Graffard’s double as Calandagan wins Group 1
By TDN Europe
Two years, two geldings, two King Georges. Francis Graffard has carried all before him in his native France this season and he returned triumphant to Ascot on Saturday with Calandagan (Ire) his willing accomplice to repeat the success of last year's stable-mate Goliath (Ger).
“I'd prefer to have a very good gelding than a bad colt,” the trainer quipped in response to a query as to the missing anatomy of the son of Gleneagles (Ire). It is hard to argue with that assertion when scrutinising Calandagan's increasingly impressive race record, which now includes back-to-back Group 1 wins at Saint-Cloud and Ascot and another four runner-up finishes at the top level, including behind City Of Troy (USA) in the top-rated race in the world last year, the G1 Juddmonte International.
The Aga Khan Studs' homebred was narrowly favoured over Jan Brueghel (Ire) to continue his run of success at the Berkshire track, where he first properly burst onto the scene last year with his 6l romp in the King Edward VII Stakes. Onlookers were expecting a battle royal between that pair, who had been first and second when last they met in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. But if there is anything to be learned from the 75th running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, it is never to second-guess the race tactics of the Ballydoyle runners.
The St Leger-winning duo of Jan Brueghel and Continuous (Jpn) took up the running from the outset but instead of going on as might have been expected, Continuous was under an apparent tight hold from Wayne Lordan to sit at the girth of Jan Brueghel and Ryan Moore as they hugged the rail up front, with Rebel's Romance (Ire) tucked in behind the Aidan O'Brien pair.
“The tactics during the race were not what I was expecting, when I saw Continuous going very steadily it was all different,” said Graffard. “When the filly kicked on for home, my horse was still travelling well and I was hoping he was going to catch her at the end. He lengthened so strongly, he's a very good horse.”
Francis Graffard | Image courtesy of Graffard Racing
HH Aga Khan III won just the second running of the King George back in 1952 with his Derby, Eclipse and St Leger winner of the same year, Tulyar. His grandson, HH Aga Khan IV, struck next with the brilliant Shergar (Ire) in 1981 and that success was followed by victories for Alamshar (Ire) and Azamour (Ire) in 2003 and 2005. Twenty years on and that great owner-breeder is no longer with us but his legacy will live on well beyond his sad passing back in February, as this season's results have already exemplified.
The winner cannot of course be aimed at the Arc but he could be seen back on English shores as soon as August 20 for a repeat crack at the Juddmonte International. The small matter of a $3 million bonus is on offer should Calandagan go on to win the Japan Cup after winning the King George, with the latter also having 'win-and-you're-in' status for the Breeders' Cup.
“I would have no problem bringing him back to 10 furlongs, but I will discuss it with the owner,” Graffard said. “A mile and a half is also the perfect distance for him, but he ran really strongly in the race at York last year and if he comes back really well, why avoid the race? We could maybe go for the Japan Cup at the end of the season. He will have a big target somewhere.”
Too Darn Hot filly aimed at Breeders’ Cup
By Emma Berry, TDN Europe
On her third appearance at Ascot, 2-year-old filly Fitzella (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) set a fierce gallop from the gates and was never headed when winning the G3 Princess Margaret Stakes by a length from Staya (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}).
Bred by Bob and Pauline Scott at Parks Farm Stud, the winner had been beaten only a neck on her debut at the track in May before posting a convincing win at Haydock and then running fourth in the G3 Albany Stakes at the royal meeting. Fitzella is trained by Hugo Palmer, who outlined his intention to aim her towards the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf at the end of the season.
“She has shown great gate speed today. The first weekend of November is a long way from now so she will definitely run again, and possibly twice, but I wouldn't think more than that. This is her fourth start of the year so I wouldn't want her to have much more than five or six,” said the trainer.
A daughter of the Exceed And Excel mare Shamandar (Fr), Fitzella is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Admiral Nelson (Kingman) and was bought as a yearling from the Goffs UK Premier Sale for £170,000 (AU$348,000) by Sackville Donald and Manor House Stables, where Palmer trains.
Palmer added, “I'm delighted for (her owners) Derek Passant and for Hefin (Williams), who are big supporters or ours and of others – they are big supporters of the game and this is the first group horse they've had. She was an expensive yearling but she was beautiful, and she still is.”
Palmer secured a quick-fire Group 3 double when Cheshire Dancer (Pheonix Of Spain) got the nod in a scintillating four-way finish for the G3 Valiant Stakes.
America
Trainer Barocio nabs first Grade 1 with surprise in G1 Bing Crosby
By TDN
It was bombs away Saturday at Del Mar as 18-1 outsider Lovesick Blues (USA) (Grazen {USA}) surged past pacesetter Hejazi (Bernardini) in the final 16th to spring the upset in the 1200-metre G1 Bing Crosby Stakes and secure himself a spot in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in November.
The true war horse of the field (his 40 starts leading into this race were more than several other runners combined), the 7-year-old gelding began his career all the way back in 2020, earning wins at nearly every California track and banking over $770,000 (AU$1.2 million) with the G1 Bing Crosby win taking him to 9 wins from 41 starts. And while his career began at the lowest maiden claiming levels, Lovesick Blues has seen an uptick in form over the last two years. His first stakes start was a third, beaten just a neck, in the 2023 edition of the G3 Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita and he's been knocking on the door ever since.
Purchased privately from breeder Nick Alexander to kick 2025, Lovesick Blues left Steven Miyadi's barn to join trainer Librado Barocio this year and has contested exclusively stakes company in four starts as a 7-year-old including a win in the six-furlong Siren Lure Stakes two back at Santa Anita on May 10. Fourth most recently in the same G3 Daytona Stakes he placed in two years ago, the son of Grazen (USA) was stepping into immensely deep waters Saturday to tackle his first Grade 1.
“When he broke I said 'great' and we taught him how to close, so when Giovanni (Franco) was turning for home and circling them, I knew he was running,” said Barocio. “I picked up my wife, I was going crazy. Man, what a miracle happened. My first Grade 1.”
The fifth graded stakes winner for leading California sire Grazen, Lovesick Blues is also his sire's first Grade 1 winner though he has been represented by previous Grade 1 placings from Lieutenant Dan (USA) and Enola Gray (USA). Queenofhercastle (USA) (Ministers Wild Cat {USA}), a winner herself, has produced three winners from as many to race including this runner's half-brother, Golden State Juvenile Stakes winner Speedy Wilson (USA) (Tough Sunday {USA}). The dam herself is a half to graded stakes winner Queen Bee To You (USA) (Old Topper {USA}), already responsible for stakes-placed Princess Madison (USA) (Speightstown {USA}).
