Francis-Henri Graffard

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Francis-Henri Graffard
Personal information
Born (1977-04-27) 27 April 1977 (age 48)
Le Creusot, France
Occupation Racehorse trainer
Horse racing career
SportHorse racing
Significant horses
Watch Me, The Revenant, Daryz, Gezora, Calandagan

Francis-Henri Graffard (born 27 April 1977) [1] is a French racehorse trainer. Based in Chantilly, he has won multiple Group 1 races, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Contents

Background and early career

Graffard comes from a racing background. His grandfather, Dr Henri Champliau, was a racehorse breeder who owned the 1955 Prix Vermeille winner, Wild Miss. [2] [3] Graffard graduated in law, before joining the inaugural Godolphin Flying Start programme in 2003. After completing the two-year course, he worked in the racing office of the Darley Stud for four years, and then became assistant to Alain de Royer-Dupré, who trained for the Aga Khan at Chantilly. [2] [4]

Career as a trainer

Graffard took out his trainer's licence in October 2011 and had his first winner in January 2012. Later that year, he saddled his first Group winner, when Pearl Flute won the Group 3 Prix des Chênes. His first Group 1 success was with Erupt in the 2015 Grand Prix de Paris. [4] [5] Further Group 1 wins followed with Bateel, Channel, Watch Me, In Swoop, Wooded, and The Revenant. Watch Me provided Graffard with his first success at Royal Ascot, winning the 2019 Coronation Stakes. [3]

At the beginning of 2022, following the retirement of de Royer-Dupré, Graffard became the main trainer in France for the Aga Khan. [4] His first Group 1 winner for the Aga Khan was Rouhiya, who won the 2024 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. [5] His most successful season came in 2025, when he finished at the top of the French trainers' table for both wins and prize money. [6] His thirteen Group/Grade 1 victories in the year included his first win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Daryz. He achieved his first success in the Breeders' Cup when Gezora won the Filly and Mare Turf, and his first success in the Japan Cup with Calandagan. [7]

Personal life

Graffard met his wife, Lisa-Jane Moeran, on the Godolphin Flying Start programme. Lisa-Jane, who is from Ireland, went on to become Godolphin's representative in France. [2] The couple married in Deauville in 2009, and have two daughters. [1] [2]

Major wins

Flag of France.svg France

Flag of Germany.svg Germany

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada

Flag of the United States.svg United States

Flag of Japan.svg Japan

References

  1. 1 2 "Sci Francaltine" (PDF). Pappers. 21 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Husband vs Wife: a happy couple off the course - big rivals on it". Thoroughbred Racing. 7 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Graffard Enjoying Summer Of Milestones". Thoroughbred Daily News. 3 September 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Francis Graffard to succeed Royer-Dupre as Aga Khan's principal trainer". Racing Post. 16 September 2021.
  5. 1 2 "F-H Graffard". Racing Post. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Entraîneurs". France Galop (in French). Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Calandagan wins epic Japan Cup in record time". Racing TV. 30 November 2025.
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