Latest news with #Gezora
New Paper
16-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
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
North Wales Chronicle
15-06-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Gezora takes Prix de Diane honours at Chantilly from Bedtime Story
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gezora raced in the pack through the 10-furlong contest before switched out to launch her challenge with around a furlong and a half to run. She kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, having enough in reserve to hold off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bedtime Story, who only narrowly failed to come from last to first under Ryan Moore. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect turned for home and momentarily looked she would again be involved at the business end, but while she was in front with two furlongs to run, she had raced keenly in second and was ultimately eased by Kieran Shoemark when her chance had gone. Gezora was beaten by stablemate Mandanaba on her initial start in April, but the Almanzor filly landed the Prix Saint-Alary last time – a performance which gave Graffard plenty of confidence. He said: 'She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all time and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself.' Bookmaker reaction was positive to a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid, with Coral introducing Gezora at 14-1, and Graffard added: 'It's great to have the Arc 'win and you're in races' and we know she loves the soft ground and we close no doors.' Soumillon praised the winner's heart for a battle, saying: 'When they started to quicken in the straight I was following them really easily, I knew she'd be able to change gear and that's exactly what she did. The pace was on and she was ready to react at the right time. 'I saw Ryan coming on my outside and thought 'here comes Aidan again!', but she had a great heart and we won it.' Asked about the Arc, the rider said: 'She can do a mile and a half, I think, we'll see what she can do in the Vermeille. We know she likes soft ground and the form from the Prix de Conde (last year) was great, the winner (Lazy Griff) was second in the Derby at Epsom and here (she is) the winner of the Prix de Diane, so sometimes you never know.' For owner Peter Brant, the victory in his White Birch Farm colours was the realisation of a long-held ambition to win the French fillies' Classic. Brant purchased Gezora after she won two of her four juvenile starts and was thrilled to see her better Sistercharlie, who was beaten just a length in the 2017 renewal before going on to a stellar American career. He said: 'I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamt of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race – it's always stiff competition. 'We were second with Sistercharlie, a great filly who won seven Grade Ones and she couldn't even win this race because she got into trouble. It's a very difficult race to predict.' O'Brien said of the runner-up: 'We're delighted with Bedtime Story's performance. She ran a magnificent race. Her improvement is clear. I've consistently run her in good races, and she's now showing her true form. 'This result, over this distance, opens a lot of doors. I'm not sure yet what we'll do next. We need to see how she comes out of it.' Meanwhile, Fellowes will now drop back in distance with Shes Perfect, who finished ninth, and could also dip in class in search of what would a deserved Group-race win. He said: 'I think it's clear she just didn't really stay. I always thought 10 furlongs would be in her range, but then she did a really sparkling piece of work earlier in the week and I thought maybe she had more speed than I gave her credit for. 'She won a Pouliches so we have a very, very good filly, it was the right thing to roll the dice here over 10 furlongs and we have learned a lot. 'The Falmouth would be the obvious race for her, but we might even think about dropping back in grade to try to get her head in front, give her a bit of a confidence boost and get that stakes win. 'I have a slight niggle in the back of my head that she might prefer a bit of ease underfoot, even though she ran so well in the Pouliches, maybe she was just saving herself a bit today as I walked the course and it was fast enough. 'If it turned up quick for her next run, I wouldn't shy away, but I think we'll let the dust settle a bit before making a firm plan.'
France 24
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Gezora wins Prix de Diane in Graffard masterpiece
Gezora's jockey Christophe Soumillon produced the winner down the outside as she stormed clear with a stunning burst of pace. They flashed past the post to raucous cheers from a bumper crowd basking in the sunshine with the Chantilly chateau and its equally impresssive stables providing a suitably sumptuous backdrop. Aidan O'Brien's Irish raider Bedtime Story came with a late run and was catching Gezora but the finishing post came just in time. Graffard's Cankoura was third with Mandanaba, owned by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, fourth. Little wonder that Graffard, 48, was jumping up and down in the stands as he soaked up his achievement. "I am ecstatic," he said. "The three were not entered because I am a dreamer, they all had chances. "It is difficult to make a choice of what races you put your horses in when you have different owners. "My neck suffered as I had to follow all three with my binoculars, it was not that easy!" Graffard is usually one who is an expert at managing his emotions but mention of his father being present had him choking back tears. Graffard has a law degree, but despite not coming from a racing family, his head was turned to eventually becoming a trainer. His father had other ideas. "He wanted me to be a Formula One driver!" said Graffard. "I did not think that was a good idea and I chose racing. "However, having done that my father has supported me from day one and was in the yard when the first horse arrived. "It gives me a lot of pleasure for me to give them joy and make them proud." 'Steal away from school' Whilst Graffard was winning his second Diane, for Soumillon it was his third but first since the unbeaten Zarkava in 2008. The ebullient 44-year-old Belgian had hurled his goggles into the crowd after winning the previous race but he retained these ones whilst thanking spectators for offering their congratulations. "In the finishing straight I was a bit blocked but once I got clear of that trouble I seized my opportunity," said Soumillon. "I had a bit of luck that I got this ride as on Tuesday the horse I was due to ride fractured a bone on the gallops. "Fortunately the owners (American Peter Brant's White Birch Farm) wanted me to ride." For 78-year-old Brant it was his first Diane victory after years of trying in a sport he fell in love with as a schoolboy. "I used to steal away from school and bet on racing, it has been a long journey!" he said. The other raiders from abroad failed to land a blow, though, for a brief few seconds the lively English syndicate who own the favourite Shes Perfect threatened to bring the stand down as she led. However, there was to be no rich consolation prize for them, some of whom felt they had been hard done by when she was demoted from first to second in the French 1000 Guineas last month. She got swallowed up by the Graffard trio and Bedtime Story and faded badly. Although some of the syndicate may be regretting turning down an offer from Japan of £2.2 million ($3 million) a few days before the Diane, her trainer Charlie Fellowes believes her day on the big stage will come. The crowd and the sunshine will have been some succour to French racing chiefs amidst a time when falling betting revenue is forcing a tightening of belts. The Diane has produced some superstars down the years of the calibre of the Aga Khan-owned Zarkava and Treve, both of whom went on to win Europe's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Whether Gezora reaches such heights remains to be be seen but on Sunday at least she was the queen of the "Sport of Kings" for a day.
Rhyl Journal
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Gezora takes Prix de Diane honours at Chantilly from Bedtime Story
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gezora raced in the pack through the 10-furlong contest before switched out to launch her challenge with around a furlong and a half to run. She kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, having enough in reserve to hold off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bedtime Story, who only narrowly failed to come from last to first under Ryan Moore. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect turned for home and momentarily looked she would again be involved at the business end, but while she was in front with two furlongs to run, she had raced keenly in second and was ultimately eased by Kieran Shoemark when her chance had gone. Gezora was beaten by stablemate Mandanaba on her initial start in April, but the Almanzor filly landed the Prix Saint-Alary last time – a performance which gave Graffard plenty of confidence. He said: 'She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all time and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself.' Bookmaker reaction was positive to a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid, with Coral introducing Gezora at 14-1, and Graffard added: 'It's great to have the Arc 'win and you're in races' and we know she loves the soft ground and we close no doors.' Soumillon praised the winner's heart for a battle, saying: 'When they started to quicken in the straight I was following them really easily, I knew she'd be able to change gear and that's exactly what she did. The pace was on and she was ready to react at the right time. 'I saw Ryan coming on my outside and thought 'here comes Aidan again!', but she had a great heart and we won it.' Asked about the Arc, the rider said: 'She can do a mile and a half, I think, we'll see what she can do in the Vermeille. We know she likes soft ground and the form from the Prix de Conde (last year) was great, the winner (Lazy Griff) was second in the Derby at Epsom and here (she is) the winner of the Prix de Diane, so sometimes you never know.' For owner Peter Brant, the victory in his White Birch Farm colours was the realisation of a long-held ambition to win the French fillies' Classic. Brant purchased Gezora after she won two of her four juvenile starts and was thrilled to see her better Sistercharlie, who was beaten just a length in the 2017 renewal before going on to a stellar American career. He said: 'I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamt of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race – it's always stiff competition. 'We were second with Sistercharlie, a great filly who won seven Grade Ones and she couldn't even win this race because she got into trouble. It's a very difficult race to predict.' O'Brien said of the runner-up: 'We're delighted with Bedtime Story's performance. She ran a magnificent race. Her improvement is clear. I've consistently run her in good races, and she's now showing her true form. 'This result, over this distance, opens a lot of doors. I'm not sure yet what we'll do next. We need to see how she comes out of it.' Meanwhile, Fellowes will now drop back in distance with Shes Perfect, who finished ninth, and could also dip in class in search of what would a deserved Group-race win. He said: 'I think it's clear she just didn't really stay. I always thought 10 furlongs would be in her range, but then she did a really sparkling piece of work earlier in the week and I thought maybe she had more speed than I gave her credit for. 'She won a Pouliches so we have a very, very good filly, it was the right thing to roll the dice here over 10 furlongs and we have learned a lot. 'The Falmouth would be the obvious race for her, but we might even think about dropping back in grade to try to get her head in front, give her a bit of a confidence boost and get that stakes win. 'I have a slight niggle in the back of my head that she might prefer a bit of ease underfoot, even though she ran so well in the Pouliches, maybe she was just saving herself a bit today as I walked the course and it was fast enough. 'If it turned up quick for her next run, I wouldn't shy away, but I think we'll let the dust settle a bit before making a firm plan.'
Leader Live
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Gezora takes Prix de Diane honours at Chantilly from Bedtime Story
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Gezora raced in the pack through the 10-furlong contest before switched out to launch her challenge with around a furlong and a half to run. She kept finding for pressure all the way to the line, having enough in reserve to hold off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Bedtime Story, who only narrowly failed to come from last to first under Ryan Moore. The Charlie Fellowes-trained Shes Perfect turned for home and momentarily looked she would again be involved at the business end, but while she was in front with two furlongs to run, she had raced keenly in second and was ultimately eased by Kieran Shoemark when her chance had gone. Gezora was beaten by stablemate Mandanaba on her initial start in April, but the Almanzor filly landed the Prix Saint-Alary last time – a performance which gave Graffard plenty of confidence. He said: 'She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all time and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself.' Bookmaker reaction was positive to a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid, with Coral introducing Gezora at 14-1, and Graffard added: 'It's great to have the Arc 'win and you're in races' and we know she loves the soft ground and we close no doors.' Soumillon praised the winner's heart for a battle, saying: 'When they started to quicken in the straight I was following them really easily, I knew she'd be able to change gear and that's exactly what she did. The pace was on and she was ready to react at the right time. 'I saw Ryan coming on my outside and thought 'here comes Aidan again!', but she had a great heart and we won it.' Asked about the Arc, the rider said: 'She can do a mile and a half, I think, we'll see what she can do in the Vermeille. We know she likes soft ground and the form from the Prix de Conde (last year) was great, the winner (Lazy Griff) was second in the Derby at Epsom and here (she is) the winner of the Prix de Diane, so sometimes you never know.' For owner Peter Brant, the victory in his White Birch Farm colours was the realisation of a long-held ambition to win the French fillies' Classic. Brant purchased Gezora after she won two of her four juvenile starts and was thrilled to see her better Sistercharlie, who was beaten just a length in the 2017 renewal before going on to a stellar American career. He said: 'I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamt of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race – it's always stiff competition. 'We were second with Sistercharlie, a great filly who won seven Grade Ones and she couldn't even win this race because she got into trouble. It's a very difficult race to predict.'
