Irrespective of the place you might be on the planet, horse racing followers ought to study the title Francis-Henri Graffard.
The 48-year-old French coach is exiting a profession yr in 2025, which had an ideal bow wrapped on it Jan. 20 when Calandagan was honored because the Longines World’s Greatest Racehorse. Moreover, he was the one coach to have two horses represented within the award’s high 9 as Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz completed in a three-way tie for seventh.
That standing atop the worldwide leaderboard ought to come as no shock for a coach who developed a love for — and confidence to compete in — worldwide racing by means of Godolphin’s Flying Begin program.
“[Flying Start] uncovered me to racing worldwide; huge conferences, necessary folks,” the 2005 Flying Begin graduate stated on the Jan. 26 episode of the BloodHorse Monday podcast. “As a coach, I by no means fearful about working a horse in a Group 1 or Group 2 as a result of I used to be uncovered to it and had been on the rostrum in a special function. I undoubtedly suppose all that earlier expertise — and worldwide expertise — actually helped me for the way forward for my profession.”
Graffard displayed that confidence to a T in 2025, setting a single-season report for a French coach with 14 Grade/Group 1 victories. Defending his residence turf with 9 Group 1s in France — capped by Daryz’s Arc win — Graffard additionally tacked on top-level wins in Germany, England, and Japan — the place he saddled Calandagan to change into the primary international winner of the Japan Cup in 20 years.
Nevertheless, one of many main highlights of his season got here Nov. 1 at Del Mar when Graffard scored his first Grade 1 win in America, in addition to his first within the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, with Gezora in Maker’s Mark Filly and Mare Turf.
Graffard praised the ambiance surrounding the Breeders’ Cup and stated it happens on the excellent time of yr as European trainers are sometimes winding down their seasons.
“The Breeders’ Cup is doing a improbable job to make it a giant, particular occasion,” Graffard stated. “I’ll goal all of them [the Breeders’ Cup races], don’t fear.”
Graffard’s American pursuits don’t strictly fall on extra championship moments on the Breeders’ Cup. World-class jockey Ryan Moore sparked just a little Kentucky Derby fever within the coach throughout a December dialog in Hong Kong. Whereas congratulating Graffard on his Japan Cup success, Moore informed him the 2 hardest races to win are the Japan Cup and the Kentucky Derby.
“I will likely be in search of filth horses now additionally, and hopefully I can win the ‘huge one’ at some point,” Graffard stated. “So, right here we come.”
Graffard additionally expressed curiosity in preserving a string of horses in America all through the summer season, concentrating on competitors at tracks like Saratoga Race Course and Kentucky Downs. In reality, Graffard stated he plans to start shopping for Kentucky-bred horses with Kentucky Downs particularly in thoughts. Boasting one in all America’s most profitable race meets already, Kentucky-breds run for added bonuses at Kentucky Downs — and on the commonwealth’s 4 different tracks — by means of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Improvement Fund.
“I really like American racing, and I feel there’s loads of alternative, particularly on turf,” Graffard stated. “I want a little bit of time to arrange myself, however I at all times suppose [about having] a bunch of horses in a secure over there to compete within the assembly in Saratoga. It must be my purpose and my goal, as a result of I’ve a giant yard.”
