Samangan reached glory in Deauville and delivered another G1 to the Aga Khan Studs
- Turf Diario
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The son of Siyouni confirmed all his potential by capturing the ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1), on a special day dedicated to Louis Romanet and South American racing; Francis-Henri Graffard celebrated at the highest level once again and the colt is now pointing toward the Prix de la Forêt
DEAUVILLE, France.— In one of the most emotional runnings of the ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1—1,300 m) in recent years, held at Deauville racecourse and dedicated to the memory of Louis Romanet, Samangan proved he belongs among the European racing elite by landing his first career G1 with a courageous display down the demanding 1,300-meter straight.
carrying the iconic silks of the Aga Khan Studs for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, the three-year-old found in Mickaël Barzalona the ideal partner to execute a ride blending tactical sharpness and raw determination in the closing stages.
tracking the early pacesetters Afandy (Mehmas) and Irish favorite True Love (No Nay Never), Samangan made his decisive move 300 meters out, taking command and braced for a desperate battle. he first repelled a bid from French challenger Stolen Kiss (Chachnak), and just as victory seemed assured, had to dig deep to withstand a flying late surge from British raider Division (Kingman), who found room only in the dying strides. the line came just in time for Graffard's charge, preserving a half-head margin over Division, with Stolen Kiss a head further back in third.
the clock stopped at 1m16s40/100 for a test that remains unique on the calendar, contested over a specialist trip between absolute sprint and a mile, demanding a rare blend of tactical speed and stamina.
the victory marked the logical step forward for a colt who had shown high class as a juvenile, capturing both G3 and G2 honors, even if the opening stages of his three-year-old campaign failed to go according to plan—a slump that ultimately ruled him out of a trip to the 2,000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket.
"I am delighted for the whole team. we have always held this horse in high regard," Graffard said. "things didn't go our way earlier in the year, but he needed to gain experience. each race built his strength, and today he was able to deliver his finish with great composure, without being rushed. the next target could be the Qatar Prix de la Forêt, provided the ground doesn't turn too soft. he is a G1 winner now, boasts an exceptional pedigree, and has secured his future at stud. my job is done."
speaking on behalf of the Aga Khan Studs, racing manager Nemone Routh shared the team's satisfaction: "mission accomplished. we are thrilled to see him win in this fashion. when a horse wins a G3 and a G2 at two, you naturally dream of G1 success. early in the season he wasn't quite at his peak, and his work leading into the Guineas wasn't right, which is why he didn't travel to Newmarket."
Routh also highlighted the colt's growing maturity: "he is very straightforward to ride. today he tracked Afandyperfectly and showed tremendous heart at the finish. he could probably stay a bit further. he holds entries in both the British Champions Sprint Stakes and the Prix de la Forêt, though we know he is much better on faster ground, as was the case today."
for connection of Division, second place brought mixed emotions. Maureen Haggas, representing trainer William Haggas, felt the race setup did not play to her horse's strengths: "he ran a storming race. there just wasn't enough pace up front, and he finished like a rocket."
echoing those sentiments was Wathnan Racing manager Richard Brown: "he needs a fast-run race. he has top-class form over 1,200 meters and finished with incredible power again today, but the tempo was just too slow for him. in a Group 1 sprint, that rarely happens."
there was also pride in the camp of Stolen Kiss, who earned third after another high-level performance: "you cannot fault him at all," explained Pauline Chehboub of Gousserie Racing. "he was giving weight to three-year-old colts and we genuinely thought he could win it. the race structure left him a bit further back than ideal, but he proved once again that he is knocking on the door of a G1. hopefully his turn comes soon."
beyond the sporting result, the day carried deep symbolic resonance. the 2026 edition of the Maurice de Gheest paid tribute to Louis Romanet, a monumental figure in French and international racing administration, former president of France Galop, and long-serving leader of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
on a stage steeped in history and emotion, Samangan wrote the first major chapter of an escalating career—one that, having conquered Deauville, now sets its sights firmly on the flagship events of the European autumn.
