Gezora hands Graffard rare 3-of-4 in Diane
PARIS French filly Gezora came off a superb late surge to win the €1 million (S$1.48 million) Group 1 Prix de Diane (2,100m) at her home track of Chantilly on June 15.
The Almanzor three-year-old is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, who had three runners in the race, all of whom finished among the top four.
The Aga Khan pair of Cankoura (Clement Lecoeuvre) and Mandanaba (Mickael Barzalona) finished third and fourth respectively, split by the Irish-trained Bedtime Story (Ryan Moore) in second for Coolmore and Aidan O'Brien.
Such a grouped finish is unmatched in recent memory in the Prix de Diane and a remarkable achievement for Graffard, who won the French filly classic once before, with Channel in 2019.
The Godolphin-trained conditioner was particularly moved with that second success, more so when it was earned in front of his father, who once harboured career aspirations in a horsepower of a different kind for his son.
"It's incredibly emotional, especially with my father here today," he said.
"He's always supported me, even though he's not from the racing world at all. He dreamed I would become a Formula 1 driver."
Gezora ($27) did come screaming down the last 400m like a high-speed machine towards a resounding win that was not unexpected.
The last of her previous three wins came in the Group 2 Prix Saint-Alary (2,000m) at ParisLongcgamp on May 11. It is one of the official prep races for the Prix de Diane, also simply known as the Diane or the French Oaks.
"Gezora won the Saint-Alary really well, and more importantly, she continued to progress after that victory," said Graffard. "So she came into the big day in peak condition.
"I didn't really know her limits, so it's no surprise to see her win. She's an easy, professional filly.
"With this win, she gets a wild card for the Arc (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2,400m on Oct 5). We're keeping all options open, especially since we know she loves soft ground."
Gezora marked a welcomed return to the big time for Belgian ace jockey Christophe Soumillon, who secured his third win in the Prix de Diane after Latice (2004) and Zarkava (2008).
The multiple-time Cravache d'Or (top jockey in France) would have actually missed this year's renewal if not for Graffard's loyalty.
He was initially booked on Graffard's fourth entry Audubon Park, who was, however, scratched five days before the race because she was in-season.
"These are races where you have to be right there, and a bit lucky too," said Soumillon.
"On Tuesday morning, I had bad news with the situation around Audubon Park, and I was lucky that Gezora's trainer and owner trusted me with the ride. It's amazing."
Probably even more amazing was his tactical nous, even after he drew barrier 1, not necessarily a boon for Chantilly.
To many pundits, the race was won when Soumillon opted out from hugging the rails. It was a brilliant winning move that hailed one of France's best-ever jockeys, even if he does not garner the same support of his heyday.
"From the start, I told Francis that I didn't want to get stuck behind fillies with no chance," he said.
"Gezora didn't jump off very fast. As soon as I had the opportunity, I moved her out.
"I didn't want to leave Clement (Lecoeuvre, jockey of Cankoura) hung out wide, so I let him in. At the top of the straight, I could see Cankoura had a lot of horse left, and I managed to get in her slipstream.
"I was a bit boxed in, but what a thrill it was when she saw daylight.
"In our job, you can't give up. You have to get up every morning and work hard, and I hope this sets an example for the young riders.
"I may ride a bit less now, but I've got great trainers who believe in me, and when I get the chance to ride top horses in big races, it's a real treat." FRANCE GALOP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘No excuses' says Lions coach Andy Farrell after loss to Argentina
DUBLIN – Coach Andy Farrell had hoped for a tough game against Argentina before the British and Irish Lions boarded their flight for Australia, and said his still gelling squad had no excuses after getting more than they bargained for in a 28-24 defeat. 'We made it a tough game,' a forthright Farrell said on June 20 when asked if he got the kind of stern test he wanted and that the group's limited time together was no kind of mitigating factor. 'I wouldn't give that excuse. We need to be better than that. They're Lions players.' While he said he was pleased with the Lions' aggressive scrummaging, the list of areas to improve was long – a 'clunky' attack, breakdown, misfiring lineout, kicking game, throwing balls blindly away and battles in the air and on the ground. 'It's too much, it's too much when it all comes together... The whole story of the game is that we compounded too many errors and in the end we weren't able to put the pace on the game that we wanted to because of that,' Farrell added. 'We need to be honest because if we're not honest, how do we gain trust with each other so we have to say it as it is. There were certain things that we said we were going to do and we need to own that. 'Losing hurts, especially in this jersey so we need to find the solutions pretty quickly.' The Pumas had the Lions on the ropes early thanks to tries from Ignacio Mendy and Tomas Albornoz either side of a Bundee Aki effort that gave them a deserved 21-10 half-time lead. The Lions, playing without almost half of their panel due to recent club commitments and injury, were a different animal early in the second half and regained the lead after a penalty try and another home crowd score, this time for Tadhg Beirne. But Santiago Cordero put Argentina back in front against the run of play with another great team try and the error-strewn Lions could not reply again to leave themselves five more games, all in Australia, to set things right before the first test against the Wallabies on July 19. Farrell had said he expected the Lions to have a fully fit squad in the next week with Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan and Huw Jones working their way back to fitness, and at least appeared to come away unscathed. 'Health wise we seem to have come away okay,' he said. Centre Aki said he was disappointed in his own performance and not connecting better with new centre partner Sione Tuipulotu, said Farrell had been just as forthright in the changing room. 'He gives it to us straight, there's no mucking around and we're old enough to take it on the chin. Faz (Farrell) set out a challenge for us to win every game and we've just got to learn quickly,' the Irish No. 12 said. Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi, meanwhile, knew just how special and potentially unique the victory was, having gone agonisingly close as a player two decades ago. Contepomi was captain when the sides last met before the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand. That game ended in a 25-25 draw, and the latest contest was just Argentina's second shot at the Lions in almost a century. 'Coming here 20 years later I think it's incredible. We don't know if we'll ever again be invited and definitely for everyone who's been involved this week it will be memorable,' he said. 'It is special. I know how special it is for an Irish, a Scottish, a Welsh or an English player to be a Lion, and for us to play against the best of the best in these islands, it's nearly a dream.' REUTERS, AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Tyrese Haliburton warns Indiana Pacers of ‘poison' of outside noise before NBA Finals Game 7
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton gets a hug from his girlfriend after Game 6 of the NBA Finals. PHOTO: EPA-EFE OKLAHOMA CITY – Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton says the Pacers must keep their focus firmly on the Oklahoma City Thunder and block out the 'poison' of narratives popping up around Game 7 of the NBA Finals, which will take place on June 22. The Pacers pushed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder to a winner-take-all title showdown with a stunning blowout victory on June 19 – Haliburton inspiring his teammates with a 14-point performance two days after he limped through Game 5 with a right calf strain. Now the Pacers have a chance to claim the first NBA championship for a franchise that won three American Basketball Association titles before joining the NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. 'The narratives are going to be almost poison,' Haliburton said. 'To talk about what this would mean to our city and our organisation and legacy talk, and how we played so well and now the pressure is on (the Thunder)... there's going to be narratives that we can't really pay attention to. 'We've got to control what we can. So much of these games has come down to who is going to start the fight from a physicality standpoint, take care of the ball better, rebound the ball better. 'Those are the important things that we need to focus on... we've got to be ready to compete in Game 7.' The NBA title-decider in Oklahoma City will be the 20th Game 7 in Finals history, and the first since 2016 – when the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors on their home floor to complete their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit and claim the title. The LeBron James-led Cavs were the first road team to win a Finals Game 7 since 1978. Home teams are 15-4 in championship Game 7s and Haliburton knows the Pacers face a monumental task in trying to polish off the 68-win (regular season) Thunder on their home court. 'There's no such thing as, like, a pretty Game 7. They're usually ugly bloodbaths,' he added. 'We've got to go in and just figure it out. These guys are going to play hard. They make shots at a higher clip at home. Their crowd is amazing. 'This is why we do what we do. This is the peak, the pinnacle of our sport.' Meanwhile in other news, NBA star Kevin Durant has purchased a minority stake in French football club Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League winners said on June 20, and the Phoenix Suns forward will provide expertise on their planned expansion into basketball. Durant, a two-time NBA champion and four-time Olympic gold medallist, has signed a share purchase and strategic partnership agreement with PSG's majority shareholder Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), through his company Boardroom. 'It is an honour to partner with QSI and to be a shareholder of Paris Saint-Germain, a club and a city that is deeply close to my heart,' Durant, who won gold at the Paris Olympics last year, said. 'This club has big plans and I look forward to being part of the next phase of growth and exploring new investment opportunities with QSI.' One of those opportunities is likely to come in the world of basketball, with PSG already involved in early-stage talks with the NBA regarding potential investment and venues for a new basketball league in Europe. Durant, who had already forged a link with PSG through the club's minority shareholder Arctos Partners, will partner on a wide range of commercial, investment and content production initiatives. The 36-year-old will also support the club in its strategy of diversification and growth on sporting and commercial fronts, including developing the club's strategy in the United States and other international markets. PSG said in a statement that Durant would provide 'expertise on PSG's multi-sport strategy, particularly regarding future projects in the field of basketball'. Durant was recently included in Forbes' 2025 list of the world's highest-paid athletes, coming in at No. 10 with earnings of US$101.4 million. AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Straits Times
'Nearly a dream', Argentina's Contepomi basks in unique Lions win
DUBLIN - Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi knew just how special and potentially unique Friday's victory over the British and Irish Lions was, having gone agonisingly close as a player two decades ago. Contepomi was captain when the sides last met before the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand, when the Pumas were a Johnny Wilkinson stoppage time penalty away from a first ever victory in the fixture. That game ended in a 25-25 draw, and Friday's contest was just Argentina's second shot at the Lions in almost a century. Their first six meetings were played during tours of Argentina when the Lions did not limit their itinerary to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. Contepomi said they could not be sure when they would get the opportunity again. "It's kind of a one-off. It's an invitation game and the last time, it was 20 years ago, and we were just there and we couldn't beat them," Contepomi told a press conference. "Coming here 20 years later I think it's incredible. We don't know if we'll ever again be invited or not to play and definitely for everyone who's been involved this week it will be memorable." "It is special. I know how special it is for an Irish, a Scottish, a Welsh or an English player to be a Lion, and for us to play against the best of the best in these islands, it's nearly a dream." The former Argentina flyhalf, who knows British and Irish rugby well, having spent six seasons with Leinster and worked as a doctor during his time in Ireland, said he expected Australia to face a far more ferocious set of Lions next month. "We took a bit of an opportunity because I know they'll be much better in one month's time when they play Australia. They'll be an awesome team, because they have so much quality in there," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
