Qatar Prix du Jockey Club 2025 : Francis-Henri Graffard, Entraîneur de Curragh Camp et Parachutiste

His runners: Curragh Camp, Parachutiste (and Azimpour)

Currently at the top of the trainers’ standings in France, Francis-Henri Graffard will have three runners in the 2025 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club: Azimpour (see press release on the Aga Khan Studs runners), Curragh Camp and Parachutiste. This year, the Chantilly-based professional is enjoying an exceptional run of form, and it can be said without hesitation that his stable has never been so successful. As black-type victories continue to accumulate, Francis-Henri Graffard aims to make the most of this period of success. To do so, he is sending out a significant number of horses in the classic races, such as the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, while also preparing a strong team for the Royal Ascot meeting in England.

Curragh Camp carries the silks of Robert NG, as did his sire Romanised before him, and he comes into the race off a third-place finish in the Prix de Guiche (Gr.3), a key prep race for the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. Parachutiste is unbeaten in two starts this year at age three and recently won the Prix de Ferrières, a Class 1 race at ParisLongchamp. The Qatar Prix du Jockey Club will be his first attempt at a Group race. He runs for his breeders, Écurie des Monceaux and Skymarc Farm, in partnership with Qatar Racing.

HIS QUOTES

Extracts from the press conference organised by France Galop

Francis-Henri Graffard on Curragh Camp:

"He’s a horse I like a lot and he enjoys good ground. I would have liked to start him in the Prix de Crèvecoeur last year at Deauville, but he had a small issue. In the end, he couldn’t debut at two. He made his first start this winter on the all-weather, winning very nicely. Then he ran in a Listed race where, unfortunately, he found himself a bit far back. The race lacked pace and he was very keen. We gave him some time, then brought him back in the Prix de Guiche. In that race, again he found himself a bit far back but finished well, with Christophe Soumillon riding him very sensibly. He has come forward a lot since that run. He’s gaining a lot of strength, maturity, and he has great scope. We’re tempted by the Jockey Club because I think he’s going to improve a lot. In the Prix de Guiche, he didn’t finish far behind Cualificar, who will be one of the favourites for the race. Regarding the distance, as Aidan O’Brien rightly said, better to have a good miler who stays 2,000m than the other way around. Curragh Camp may have the speed to get into a good position and I have no doubt about his stamina. Curragh Camp worked with Parachutiste on Monday. They don’t have the same style: Curragh Camp travels very well on the bit, while Parachutiste is rather laid-back. Both are ready, I was pleased with the work. Curragh Camp will be partnered by Stéphane Pasquier."

Francis-Henri Graffard on Parachutiste:

"He arrived at the yard at the end of summer. He had to adapt to my method, and I managed to get him to the races at the end of his 2-year-old season, on the all-weather at Deauville. I trained his dam, so I was really happy to receive him in training. He keeps progressing. His debut was very good and I knew he would be even better at three. Early this year, he won his maiden, then he won a conditions race at Longchamp, on soft ground. But he is really a good ground horse: he is much more effective on it. When a horse is entered in the Jockey Club, it means we believe he has enough quality to justify that entry. In the case of Parachutiste, we had two options: to run in the Prix Hocquart, which took place last Thursday at Longchamp, or the Jockey Club. After discussing with his connections, we told ourselves we had nothing to lose by going for the Group 1! In training, he keeps improving and has come forward well from his races. Oisin Murphy came to ride him last Monday, and he will be his jockey as he is under contract with the owner. He’s a colt who can be cold during his work. It was important for them to get to know each other, and everything went well. I preferred that he gallop at the racecourse and discover the Chantilly track this way, rather than seeing it for the first time on race day. He was born to be a good horse; we’re taking our chance! Parachutiste is straightforward, I’m not worried about the big field, although the draw numbers are important."