Erdenali stepped up to the premier class in spectacular fashion, proving too powerful for the assembled challengers in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. The race featured a strong contingent from Britain and Ireland, with Aidan O'Brien's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Gstaad installed as the odds‑on favourite. He was closely followed by Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo and the Ed Walker‑trained Ten Bob Tony, both considered serious threats.
In contrast, Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Erdenali entered the contest without any previous Group One experience. Nevertheless, the colt had already captured attention by winning his first three starts, and he had only narrowly missed out on a Group Three victory in his most recent outing, finishing a disappointing third after an unlucky trip. The stage was set for a classic showdown.
As the race unfolded, Gstaad’s pacemaker Dorset took the early lead, setting a brisk tempo that forced the field to settle behind a fast pace. Appleby’s Opera Ballo made a strong move early on, but by the time the field turned into the final furlong his energy was waning.
At that critical juncture, Erdenali and the surprise Queen Anne Stakes winner Ten Bob Tony surged forward, battling for the lead. Erdenali quickly proved the superior of the two, pulling ahead and creating a clear gap. Gstaad, despite his reputation, never managed to threaten the leaders and ultimately faded to finish a disappointing third. Erdenali, on the other hand, crossed the line decisively, confirming his status as a top‑class miler.
After the race, Nemone Routh, the French racing manager and director for the Aga Khan Studs, spoke to Sky Sports Racing. She said, "We were wondering if he was going to the Arc sale or not after this, but I don't think we will now! He’s not a horse that shows very much in the morning – if you'd seen him work this week you wouldn't have been particularly impressed, but it all comes together in the afternoon. He should have been unbeaten – he should have won that Group Three very easily, we had just a nightmare trip.
It was always the plan to come here; we needed to find out if he was a Group One horse and I think he's done that quite resoundingly." Erdenali is now Coral’s new 2‑1 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot. However, his connections have several other runners in the same division, so their exact plans remain flexible. Routh added, "We have some other horses for the Prix de la Forêt – we have Samangan if the ground doesn’t get too soft and we have Rayif, who might go to the QEII. I think Erdenali is in the QEII as well and we were thinking of taking him to Keeneland for a race after this, but we might have to rethink now.
He’s definitely shown us he’s a Group One horse." Ed Walker, speaking about runner‑up Ten Bob Tony, expressed his pride: "Thrilled, very proud of him again. I’ve slightly lost my voice. He’s amazing and he’s had an amazing season.
He’s really stepped it up a gear, it was a huge run. I’m a bit gutted as I thought we had it.
I saw we had Opera Ballo and Gstaad beat and probably didn’t give the winner the respect he deserves – he looks very good and we were probably beaten by a very good horse. The plan was always the QEII. Whether we do the QEII and the Breeders’ Cup, we’ll see. We’ll do what’s right for him, hopefully he’ll be around for many more years." The race report also touched on other notable performances on the same day.
Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, who had been a favourite for the Epsom Derby before a starting‑stall incident forced him to be withdrawn, rebounded with a classic triumph at the Curragh three weeks later. He later ran creditably in the King George at Ascot, finishing third against older horses. Benvenuto Cellini returned from a brief spell with expectations of targeting the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
However, after chasing his stablemate Montreal from the home turn, he struggled to find a clear run and faded to finish fifth. Meanwhile, Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Varandir, who had been fourth behind William Haggas’s Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris, seized the initiative in the closing stages of the Qatar Prix Niel.
Guided by Mickael Barzalona, Varandir pulled ahead to claim a comfortable victory over the staying‑on Alam. When asked whether Varandir’s win was unexpected, Routh explained, "No, not hugely. 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. He’s a horse that mentally and physically has improved throughout the year and we knew we had him well.
I think he needed this run, because he was a bit heavy in the preliminaries." Coral has dramatically shortened Varandir’s odds for the Arc from 40‑1 to 20‑1, reflecting his rising reputation. While the previous year’s winner Daryz remains the stable’s primary Arc hope, Varandir – a son of Zarak – has earned a legitimate spot alongside him.
Routh concluded, "He is in the Arc. We obviously need to speak to Princess Zahra (owner), but I’d say why not run? That would be my idea right now. I think 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." Overall, the Qatar Prix du Moulin day highlighted the depth of the Aga Khan Studs’ talent pool, showcasing emerging stars like Erdenali and established performers such as Varandir. Both horses have now demonstrated that they belong at the highest level, setting up intriguing storylines for the upcoming British Classics, the Arc, and potentially even the Breeders’ Cup later in the season.