By Andrew Hawkins
Exciting German filly Matilda will make her debut for Francis-Henri Graffard in Sunday’s G1 Prix Rothschild (1600m) at Deauville as the Chantilly trainer looks to continue his stellar season.
Graffard won his second straight G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Calandagan last weekend, his fifth Group 1 win this season. He has trained almost twice as many French winners this year as his nearest pursuer, Jean-Claude Rouget, and his earnings are also almost double that of second-placed Andre Fabre.
Few horses in his yard have as much upside as Matilda. The Soldier Hollow filly dominated the boys at her last start in the G2 German 2,000 Guineas, racing clear by almost seven lengths to make it two wins from three starts for former trainer Yasmin Almenrader.
Matilda was subsequently acquired by American billionaire Peter Brant and will race in his two-tone green colours on Sunday. Brant and Graffard combined to win this year’s G1 Prix de Diane with Gezora.
“She is an exciting filly,” Graffard said. “We don’t know what to expect from her but we are looking forward to seeing what she can achieve in France in the months ahead.”
Graffard will also saddle up Prix de Diane fourth Mandanaba in the same Aga Khan colours as Calandagan.
“We think that coming back to a mile will suit her,” he said.
