It’s the running of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club for 2025, and again its France verses Ireland, with the Aga Khan Studs verses Coolmore Ballydoyle.
First, it’s the charming Helene Dupuy of Galop-France Media who speaks highly of the Aga Khan Stud runners Ridari and Azimpour, while Coolmore have Camile Pissarro and Trinity College.
“The Aga Khan Studs are certainly the most well-known stable in the world,” said Helena. “and for more than a century this famous racing silks has won all the French, British and Irish classics.”
“Particularly in France, where the majority of its string is currently trained by the Chantilly based Mikel Delzangles and Francis-Henri Graffard, and under the supervision of Nemone Routh.”
With the ‘Aga’s’ looking for their ninth Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, its Top Ville and Darshaan who have left a lasting mark on European breeding with the high quality their progeny at stud.
In fact, can Ridari or Azimpour be their ninth and join Charlottesville in 1960, Top Ville 1979, Darshaan 1984, Mouktar 1985, Natroun 1987, Dalakhani 2003, Darsi 2006 and Vadeni in 2022.
In continuing, Helena stated “In 2025 in France the Aga Khan stable is certainly having its best start to a season in a long time, with already 30 wins from 88 runners, at a success rate of 34%.”
“This year, the ‘greens’ will be doubly represented at the start of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, with Azimpour trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, and Ridari trained by Mikel Delzangles.”
In leaving Helena there, its Ridari who’s quoted as the $6 second pick in jumping from Barrier 11 of 18 runners with Mikael Barzalona, while Azimpour is $26 for Clement Lecoeuyre from 16.
With Ridari having won the Prix de Fontainebleau, he’s was fifth by only 1½ lengths in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains, having run into second but was caught by the ‘speedy milers.’
For Azimpour, it was a last start close fourth in the classic-trial Prix de Suresnes of 2000m, having earlier finished second in the Prix la Force, while at two he won over 1800m at Longchamp.
Posted as the $4 favourite Camile Pessarro has drawn the rail in Barrier 1 for Ryan Moore wearing the blue and orange silks, while Trinity College is $15 with Wayne Lordan from Barrier 3.
Named after the Danish-French impressionist, Aiden O’Brien has his 3yo colt Camile Pissarro coming off a third in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, having won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at two.
And in-addition for Coolmore, Aiden O’Brien is looking for Trinity College to “step-up,’ in being a head second to Sea Scout in the Epsom Blue Riban Trial, having won over 1mile at Naas.
As many a champion’s breeding career has been launched with victory in the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club, will a stallion box door be open for Ridari or Azimpour at the Haras de Bonneval.
Both bred by the Aga Khan Studs, its Ridari who is from the European Champion 3YO Filly Ridasiyna, and by Churchill it’s his European Champion 3YO son Vedeni who stands at Bonneval.
Sire by Dubawi, Azimpour is the immediate family of Australian 5-times Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun, who in already siring three classic winners, has his yearlings sell up to $1.8 million.
From Coolmore its their 1.25mGns 2023 Tattersalls October Book 1 buy Camile Pissarro, in being by Coolmore Australian shuttler Wootton Basset is a half-brother to Group 1 Golden Horde.
In rounding out, and home-bred by Coolmore, the Dubawi sired Trinity College is from the dual 1000 Guineas winner Hermosa, the family of Group 1 Hydrangea, The United States, Fire Lily.
Today, both Mikel Delzangles and Francis-Henri Graffard are looking to the Qatar Prix de Jockey Club to be their first French classic with a colt, having both have won French fillies classics.
Francis-Henri Graffard has won the Prix de Diane, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches twice, while Mikel Delzangles has won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches twice and the 2,000 Guineas in Britain.
