Erdenali stepped up to the sport's highest tier in spectacular fashion, outclassing a strong field in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. The race featured a formidable British and Irish contingent, with Aidan O'Brien’s Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Gstaad installed as the odds‑on favourite. Close behind were Charlie Appleby’s Opera Ballo and Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony, both regarded as serious threats.
Unlike those three, Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Erdenali entered the Group One contest without any previous top‑level experience. He had, however, impressed in his first three starts, winning each, and had narrowly missed out on a Group Three win in his most recent outing, finishing a unlucky third. The stage was set for a classic showdown.
The early pace was dictated by Gstaad’s pacemaker, Dorset, who set a brisk tempo for Opera Ballo to take the lead. As the race unfolded, Appleby’s charge began to fade, and by the final furlong his mount was a spent force. At that critical moment Erdenali and the surprise Queen Anne winner Ten Bob Tony surged forward, engaging in a head‑to‑head battle for the lead. Erdenali proved the superior of the two, pulling away decisively while Ten Bob Tony could not maintain the challenge.
Gstaad, despite his reputation, never threatened to turn the tide and ultimately finished a disappointing third, far from the winning circle. After the race, French racing manager and Aga Khan Studs director Nemone Routh spoke to Sky Sports Racing, explaining the connections’ plans. She said, “We were debating whether to send him to the Arc sale, but after this performance we doubt that will happen.
He is a horse that doesn’t always look impressive in the morning – you wouldn’t have been impressed watching his morning work – yet everything clicks in the afternoon. He should have been unbeaten; the Group Three loss was a nightmare trip. The aim was always to test him at Group One level, and he has done that resoundingly.” Erdenali is now Coral’s new 2‑1 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot. The stable, however, has several runners in the same division, so the final decision is being weighed.
Routh added, “We have Samangan for the Prix de la Forêt if the ground stays firm, and Rayif could also target the QEII. Erdenali is certainly in the QEII mix, and we were also considering a trip to Keeneland after that, but we may need to rethink now. He has undeniably proven himself a Group One horse.” Ed Walker, speaking about runner‑up Ten Bob Tony, expressed his emotion: “I’m thrilled and a little hoarse from shouting. He’s been amazing all season, stepping up a gear with that huge run.
I’m a bit gutted because I thought we had the race in the bag. Seeing Opera Ballo and Gstaad beat us made us realise we were up against a very good horse and perhaps didn’t give the winner enough credit. The plan has always been the QEII, and possibly the Breeders’ Cup afterwards.
We’ll do what’s best for him and hope he stays sound for many years.” The coverage also highlighted a separate story from the same meeting. Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, who had been the favourite for the Epsom Derby before a controversial non‑run, rebounded with Classic success at the Curragh and later placed respectably in the King George at Ascot. Returning from a brief break, the Frankel‑sired colt was expected to make a serious bid for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but after chasing his stablemate Montreal from the home turn, he faded to fifth.
With Montreal tiring in the final furlong, Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Varandir – who had been a close fourth behind William Haggas’s Maltese Cross in the Grand Prix de Paris – seized the lead under Mickael Barzalona and cruised home to a comfortable victory over the staying‑on Alam. When asked if the win was unexpected, Routh replied, “Not really. We knew the horse was in great shape and had progressed a lot since his Group Three win. He’s improved both mentally and physically throughout the year, and his performance in the Grand Prix de Paris confirmed that.
He needed a run like this because the preliminaries were a bit heavy for him.” Varandir’s odds for the Arc were cut dramatically from 40‑1 to 20‑1, and the Aga Khan Studs are now contemplating a dual entry alongside last year’s winner Daryz. Routh noted, “He is definitely in the Arc. We’ll talk to Princess Zahra, but I think running him makes sense. He handles any ground, and having two runners can be a tactical advantage – you might draw poorly with one and get a good draw with the other.
Spreading the chances is a sensible strategy.” Overall, the Qatar Prix du Moulin meeting underscored the depth of talent in the Aga Khan operation, with Erdenali confirming his status as a top‑class miler and Varandir adding a valuable Group One win to his résumé. Both horses now have clear pathways to the season’s remaining marquee events, and racing fans will be watching closely to see how their campaigns unfold.