Sahlan gives Francis Graffard a second Group 1 in thirty minutes and now dreams of the Breeders’ Cup
A blanket finish
At 3:25 p.m., French trainer Francis Graffard, based in Chantilly (Oise), landed the Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr.1) in Germany with Goliath (Adlerflug)… and just twenty-five minutes later, he completed a remarkable Group 1 double by winning the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in Paris with Sahlan (Wootton Bassett)! A day that will be etched in his memory for a long time, in a year when everything seems to be going his way…
Yet the victory in the Moulin was decided by the narrowest of margins. After seizing what looked like a decisive advantage over The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) – who had himself taken control from the front-runner Alcantor (New Bay) – Sahlan was challenged late by the British colt Rosallion (Blue Point), who finished with a storming run but fell just a short head short! Irish favorite Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett) proved somewhat disappointing, perhaps on an “off day,” finishing only fifth.
The decisive moment came in the final dash: on one side, Sahlan quickly straightened and balanced himself, ready to unleash his turn of foot immediately; while on the other, Rosallion shifted slightly outward as he quickened, drifting left before finding his stride in the right rhythm. Those few lost meters would prove irretrievable…
Official Result – QATAR PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP
1st SAHLAN (M. Barzalona)
2nd ROSALLION (S. Levey)
3rd THE LION IN WINTER (W.M. Lordan)
Time: 1’35’’39. Margins: Short head – Neck – 1/2.
Quotes
Francis Graffard, trainer of Sahlan (1st), Chantilly (France)
“It’s fantastic. He’s a horse I’ve always liked. We’ve had some tricky moments with him, but when things don’t go right, you have to know how to sit tight. By supplementing him today, I took a risk, especially since his owners had already turned down some big offers. But I told them we would win a Group 1 with him, even if maybe not this year… I insisted they keep him and not sell him right away. (…) Sometimes you have to take risks. I’m over the moon; he has such a powerful turn of foot! Not long ago, if I had said I’d win the Moulin, people would have thought I was crazy… but the owners’ trust really helped. I also want to congratulate my team, who have done an extraordinary job. Now, I’m thinking of the Breeders’ Cup Mile for him. But I need to discuss it with his owners.”
Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, racing manager for Al Shaqab Racing, owners of Sahlan (1st)
“This is real teamwork! First with the Bouquetot Stud team, then with Francis-Henri Graffard’s yard. He has a genuine turn of foot, which he has already shown in the past: he quickens very sharply, and we’ve learned how to use that. The plan was to ride him patiently to preserve that burst. He looked fantastic before the race! He’s fresh, in the right frame of mind, and he has gained strength. He’s on the upgrade. Back in November, after his debut at Deauville, we asked ourselves how far he could take us… and he’s taking us very high!”
Mickaël Barzalona, jockey of Sahlan (1st)
“At the start, I wasn’t sure he would be able to follow the right horse along the rail. But in the end, he managed to get on the favorite’s back. And when I asked him to quicken, he responded with steady progress and held off Rosallion’s challenge well. On paper, this engagement didn’t look obvious. But he proved his class.”
Richard Hannon, trainer of Rosallion (2nd), England
“It’s extremely disappointing and hard to take. Really, Rosallion is tough. He’s the best horse in the race. Nobody did anything wrong. He will end up winning one. Everybody agrees on that. In fact, he hasn’t really been beaten, has he?”
Wayne Lordan, jockey of The Lion In Winter (3rd), Ireland
“He enjoyed getting a lead today and he enjoyed [being] on the turn. I thought he ran a very good race and I'm very pleased with him.”
Edouard de Rothschild, owner of Alcantor (4th)
“He got a bit keen because of the leader, who kept pressuring him in the false straight. But he put in a very good performance and showed real quality, because given the ratings of the field, that’s more than respectable! We’ll see him again in a month, as he’s entered in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein.”
QREC, the official partner of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The QREC was established in the early 1960s before achieving official recognition in 1975. It is mandated with representing, promoting and advancing equine and equestrian initiatives, from grassroots programmes to the international arena. Focused on equestrian sport and horse welfare, the QREC is dedicated to promoting Qatar as a world class hub for horse racing and a leader in the Pure Arabian breed.
The QREC works in collaboration with local bodies dedicated to achieving excellence in planning, regulation and the development of Qatar’s racing industry to reflect the world's best practices. The QREC has been partner of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe since 2008, and from 2022, it also became the title partner of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, one of the most important races for the selection of the breed.