All roads lead to the Arc for Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard
He had in fact been without a Group One success since the brilliant Ace Impact won the Arc in 2023.
Leffard races in the colours of Gerard Augustin-Normand, also the owner of Le Havre, Leffard's sire and a Prix du Jockey Club winner for the same connections.
Leffard takes the Grand Prix de Paris (G1)!
pic.twitter.com/5XwyAr2Fkd
— IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) July 13, 2025
'He'll run in the Prix Niel and the Arc, that will be his programme,' said former trainer John Hammond, racing and bloodstock adviser to Augustin-Normand, who owns the colt in company with Ecurie Antonio Caro.
'It was an emotional day given what Jean-Claude has been through, it was a big day, a big, big win.
'He's a lovely looking horse, really good looking and very correct. He didn't run at two, he's a very nice type and hopefully he'll be competitive in the autumn, but he's going to have to step up a bit.
"Allez petit va !"
🤩 Pris par l'émotion, Jean-Claude Rouget accompagne Leffard dans la la dernière ligne du Cygames Grand Prix de Paris (Gr.1) pic.twitter.com/uvDdi810X8
— Equidia (@equidia) July 13, 2025
'On a line through the horse who finished third, New Ground, he was beaten about the same as he was by Lambourn in the Derby so we've a rough idea where we are. He was beaten five and a half lengths in Paris and five lengths at Epsom, so in theory that gives you a bit of a line.'
Hammond – twice an Arc-winning handler in his training days, courtesy of Suave Dancer and the magnificent Montjeu – added: 'He's got an outstanding pedigree and he means a lot to the owners, so it's exciting.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Hugo Ekitike joins Liverpool in £79m deal as Reds continue spending spree
Liverpool have completed the £79m deal to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt. The France under-21 striker has signed a six-year deal to keep him at Anfield until 2031. Liverpool beat Newcastle to landing the 23-year-old front man but were confident they were always leading the race and did not make a late move. They have been considering a swoop for him since January, held talks with his camp around then and boss Arne Slot spoke to the player at the end of the season. Ekitike scored 22 goals last season in all competitions but there's belief within Liverpool that he can surpass those numbers significantly to become a deadly striker and one of the best in the world because of his other statistics. The deal is £69m up front with a further £10m in add ons. The data they have used to decide on the significant investment gives them confidence more goals will come. Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was considered more of a guaranteed success but the Magpies insist he's not for sale. Data shows only Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe had better potential than Ekitike at 23 in recent years. Manchester United did make a late move to sign the French forward with Christopher Vivell contacting Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche but the player was only interested in Liverpool. Liverpool didn't enter the negotiation until Newcastle had nearly agreed a deal as they didn't want a bidding war. The Reds see Ekitike as a No 9 who can also play deeper and wide to make him a versatile option. Ekitike completed his move in London and will now fly to Asia to link up with his new team-mates in Hong Kong. The deal takes Liverpool's spending to just shy of £300m. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman's absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy. Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May. Saeed bin Suroor's Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier's yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month. Menuisier said: 'He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he'd be better over further. 'He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we're hopeful he'll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we'll keep them on.' The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month. 'He's really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I'm very pleased,' Menuisier added. 'When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you're giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it's a good level, but at level weights. 'Goodwood is our back garden, so we're going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we're going there to try and win. 'Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I'm honest. It's the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it's nearly a dream come true.' Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O'Brien's pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby's Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton's July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes. Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett's dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding's French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup
The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman's absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy. Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May. Saeed bin Suroor's Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier's yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month. Menuisier said: 'He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he'd be better over further. 'He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we're hopeful he'll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we'll keep them on.' The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month. 'He's really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I'm very pleased,' Menuisier added. 'When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you're giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it's a good level, but at level weights. 'Goodwood is our back garden, so we're going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we're going there to try and win. 'Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I'm honest. It's the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it's nearly a dream come true.' Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O'Brien's pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby's Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton's July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes. Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett's dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding's French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.
