Erdenali stepped up to the pinnacle of European sprint racing and did so in spectacular fashion, outclassing a strong field in the Qatar Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. The race, a Group One contest that traditionally attracts the best milers from Britain, Ireland and France, featured a high‑profile British‑Irish contingent. Aidan O'Brien entered his Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Gstaad as the odds‑on favourite, while Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo and Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony were also well‑regarded challengers.
In contrast, Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Erdenali was a relative newcomer to Group One company, having never contested at that level before. Nevertheless, the colt had impressed in his first three starts, winning each, and had only been unlucky to finish third in a recent Group Three after a troubled trip. The early stages of the Prix du Moulin saw Gstaad’s pacemaker Dorset take the lead, setting a sensible tempo for the field.
As the race unfolded, Opera Ballo, who had been sent to the front on behalf of Appleby’s stable, began to tire as the finish approached. By the final furlong, the pace‑setter was exhausted, and the contest narrowed to a duel between Erdenali and the surprise winner of the Queen Anne Stakes, Ten Bob Tony. Erdenali proved the stronger of the two, pulling ahead decisively while Gstaad, who had never managed to threaten the leaders, faded to a disappointing third place. After the race, Nemone Routh, the French racing manager and director for the Aga Khan Studs, explained the significance of the performance to Sky Sports Racing.
She said the stable had been undecided whether to send Erdenali to the Arc sale, but his dominant display convinced them otherwise. "He isn’t a horse that shows a lot in the morning – if you had seen his work this week you wouldn’t have been impressed – but everything clicks in the afternoon," Routh remarked. She added that the colt should have been unbeaten, noting that his third‑place finish in the Group Three was the result of a “nightmare trip.” The primary objective of the Longchamp outing, according to Routh, was to test whether Erdenali could handle Group One competition, and she believes he passed that test with flying colours. Following his victory, Erdenali became Coral’s new 2‑1 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot.
However, the connections have several horses capable of contesting the same division, so definitive plans remain tentative. Routh indicated that the stable also has Samangan, a possible entrant for the Prix de la Forêt if the ground becomes too soft, and Rayif, who could be aimed at the QEII. She hinted that the colt might even be sent to Keeneland for a post‑Ascot campaign, but the recent win may cause a reassessment of that schedule.
"He’s definitely shown us he’s a Group One horse," she concluded. Ed Walker, the trainer of runner‑up Ten Bob Tony, expressed his pride and excitement.
"I’m thrilled, I’ve almost lost my voice," he said. Walker praised his horse’s season, calling it “amazing” and noting that the colt had stepped up a gear in the Longchamp race. He admitted that the team had initially expected to beat Opera Ballo and Gstaad, but after seeing the performance of Erdenali, they realised they had been bested by a truly high‑class opponent. Walker’s long‑term plan still centres on the QEII, with the possibility of a Breeders’ Cup appearance later in the year, depending on the horse’s health and form.
The article also touched on another major French race that weekend, the Qatar Prix Niel. Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, who had been a favourite for the Epsom Derby before a starting‑stall incident forced his withdrawal, returned to form at the Curragh three weeks earlier and subsequently placed third in the King George at Ascot. In the Prix Niel, however, he struggled after chasing his stablemate Montreal and faded to fifth.
The race was ultimately won by Varandir, another Graffard‑trained horse, who had finished a close fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris behind William Haggas’s Maltese Cross. Varandir, ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, seized the lead in the home stretch and held off the staying‑on horse Alam to claim a comfortable victory. When asked whether Varandir’s win was unexpected, Routh explained that the team had been aware of the colt’s improvement throughout the season. "We knew the horse was really well, we knew he’d progressed a lot and we were very happy with his run in the Grand Prix de Paris – he really moved forward from when he won the Group Three and I think he’s moved forward a lot since then," she said.
She highlighted that Varandir had grown both mentally and physically over the year and that the Prix Niel was a necessary stepping‑stone after a heavy effort in the preliminaries. Varandir’s odds for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe were cut dramatically by Coral from 40‑1 to 20‑1, reflecting the confidence the betting public now has in him. While last year’s Arc champion Daryz is expected to defend his title, Varandir, a son of Zarak, has earned his place in the conversation for the prestigious race.
Routh confirmed that the colt is indeed being considered for the Arc, noting that having two runners from the same ownership can be advantageous when draws are unfavorable. "He goes on any ground and sometimes it’s good to have two runners as you can be drawn 18 out of 18 with one and have a good draw with another, so why not spread your chances?
It’s a possibility," she said. Overall, the weekend in France showcased the depth of talent in the Aga Khan Studs’ stable, with Erdenali confirming his status as a top‑class miler and Varandir positioning himself as a serious contender for the season’s ultimate test, the Arc. Both horses have now demonstrated the ability to perform at the highest level, and their connections will be carefully plotting their next moves as the European flat season moves toward its climax.