𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬-𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐢 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐝

Another nice type for the @GraffardRacing team! 😮‍💨 The beautifully bred Lord Clover (Siyouni x Lady Frankel) travels with ease before streaking clear to make a winning debut at Chantilly... 🇫🇷

LORD CLOVER wins first time out for @GraffardRacing and owners @BallylinchStud Ecurie Euroling, Le Thenney, @MERIDIAN7 and Haras de la Morsangliere! He was sold at The August Sale 2024 by Gestüt Ammerland to @MERIDIAN7 Congratulations!

Another fantastic effort we can be proud of from GOLIATH running 2nd in the HH Amir Trophy ☺️

Cool, calm and collected, GOLIATH! #WorldPool | @GraffardRacing | #HKIR

€185,000 for MICHONNE, a winning daughter of Cracksman, out of Listed winner and Group-placed BEST REGARDS. @GraffardRacing @Doyle_Racing 📸@zuzanna_lupa

The first day of November: Japan conquers America. The last day of November: France conquers Japan. From the Breeders’ Cup to the Japan Cup, it’s been fun tagging along.

2025 started on an emotional note with the sad loss of H.H. the Aga Khan IV, but has proved a great tribute to him as an owner/breeder with an exceptional year of racing results. 8 Gr.1 victories makes it the most successful season for the Aga Khan family since 2005. 🟢🔴

世界最強馬 #カランダガン が #ジャパンカップ を制覇🎉 ジャパンカップデーの雰囲気もあわせてどうぞ！

🌟 Cartier HOTY & @worldsbesthorse #Calandagan has picked up a unique 4-timer of Gr.1 victories this year: 🏆 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud 🇫🇷 🏆 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 🇬🇧 🏆 Champion Stakes 🇬🇧 🏆 Japan Cup 🇯🇵 ➡️ agakhanstuds.com/news/racing/ca… 🟢🔴 #Calandafans

衝撃の世界レコード、再び動いた歴史 #カランダガン #マスカレードボール

Congratulations, Calandagan 🇫🇷 — this is what a true JRA Horse of the Year looks like! 2400m 2:20.3 !!! 📷kontena

2.20.3 #ジャパンカップ #カランダガン

The best in the world.

HISTORY in Tokyo! 😮 CALANDAGAN @GraffardRacing becomes the first international #JapanCup winner for 20 years, in track record time too! ⏱️ #ジャパンカッ | @mickaelbarzalon | @AgaKhanStuds

【ジャパンC】世界No.1ホース、カランダガンが参戦！ あだ名は「champion」!? news.netkeiba.com/?pid=column_vi… @AgaKhanStuds @GraffardRacing

Japan switched its track base to a sand-based foundation in the 1990s. It drains water well and feels soft underfoot, but there’s a drawback — the turf wears out quickly because the base is too soft. For that reason, I could never confidently say, “Other regions should adopt the same sand-based structure as the JRA.” The JRA makes it work only through durable noshiba (native Japanese turf) and sheer manpower — on Tokyo Racecourse race days, around 200 people are dedicated to turf maintenance alone.

Times on the Tokyo turf have gotten faster year by year. However, one common misconception is that the surface has simply become harder — in reality, the track base has actually become softer, since Japanese courses are built on sand-based foundations. Factors like stolon density and root spread, surface flatness, elasticity, and even race pace all play a role. The speed of the turf is far more complex than many people assume.

🟩🟥 🇫🇷 Prix Lyphard - Polytrack Challenge @fgdeauville Deauville - Listed - 3 ans et plus - 1900m - 7 Pts - 47 600 € 🏆Zaydann (m) (Gb) 🏇Mickael Barzalona @mickaelbarzalon 📖((Dubawi (Ire) @DarleyEurope - Zaykava (Fr) par #Siyouni (Fr)) 🕶️Francis-Henri Graffard @GraffardRacing 🎩Aga Khan Studs Sc @AgaKhanStuds 🐎Aga Khan Studs Sc @AgaKhanStuds

🥇 𝗭𝗮𝘆𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻 (@mickaelbarzalon - @GraffardRacing ) s'impose dans le Prix Lyphard - Polytrack Challenge à Deauville et s'offre sa première Listed

👀 Gr.3 Prix Greffulhe winner #Midak heads our draft of 4⃣ horses @InfoArqana Autumn HIT Sale. This son of Footstepsinthesand has won 3 of his 5 races, and also ran well in this year's Gr.1 Epsom Derby. ➡️ agakhanstuds.com/horses/current… 🟢🔴