Francis Graffard

Last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth S. winner The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was third on seasonal debut in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc on Apr. 3, will stay in France for Saturday's G2 Prix du Muguet rather than crossing the English Channel for the G1 Lockinge S. on May 15 on account of the complications of travel during the pandemic. "Everything is fine with the horse, it is just at the moment the ground is pretty dry everywhere, and it is so complicated to travel for the staff and...

In Moment of 2020, the staff of TDN Europe reflect on their favourite moments in racing for the year. In 2019, both Gestut Schlenderhan and the Deutsches Derby celebrated 150th anniversaries. Schlenderhan, Germany's oldest Thoroughbred stud farm, has enjoyed much success throughout the world and is the leading owner when it comes to its home Derby. That record was extended this year when In Swoop (Ger) became the 19th winner of the race to be owned and bred by the Von Ullmann family, a result made all the sweeter by...

Alexander Tamagni and Regula Vannod's Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who last weekend added a victory in the G1 Prix Rothschild to her G1 Coronation S. score last year, has been retired. The news was first reported by Jour de Galop. "I wasn't completely happy with how she came out of the [Rothschild]," said trainer Francis Graffard. "We spoke to the owners and we decided together that we should respect the filly [by retiring her]. It was a good way for her to finish--she proved she's a very good...

Eleven runners remain in the potential line-up for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and 16 for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, both of which are to be run on Monday at Deauville. With French racing remaining restricted to domestic runners until mid-June, all foreign-trained horses have been removed from the initial list of entries. A notable domestic defector among the colts is the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), who was scratched from his intended comeback run in the G3 Prix de...

France is on the cusp of mirroring neighbour Germany by staging race fixtures once again and, while both countries emerge from lockdown in phased measures, it's not all that links the pair. Gestut Schlenderhan--having celebrated its 150th anniversary last year--has transferred a tranche of promising 3-year-olds across the border, sending the colts Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the filly Shenouni (Ger) (Siyouni {Fr}) to Andre Fabre. All three former Jean-Pierre Carvalho trainees will race in the colours of Corinna Baronin von Ullman. Taking delivery...

   Trainer Francis Graffard got off to a flying start this season in France before racing was brought to a halt. He speaks with the TDN's Sean Cronin about the current situation regarding the Coronavirus pandemic. TDN: We are now well into the confinement imposed by French authorities. How are you managing everything at the stable? FG: The daily routine goes on without any major problem. We have taken all sanitary measures imposed by our government's Health department like washing hands regularly, distancing, no regrouping. We have done even more...