Samangan wins Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville

Samangan powered to Group One glory for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard on Sunday, landing the ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in a thriller that went down to the wire.

The six-year-old French-bred gelding, a specialist at this mile-and-a-quarter trip, dug deep in the final furlong to hold off the late charge of The Brood. Jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot kept the pressure on from the front, clocking a final two furlongs in a shade over 23 seconds to see off his rivals. The victory marks Graffard’s second Group One win of the season, following the Prix d’Ispahan in May, and cements Samangan’s reputation as one of France’s top milers.

This wasn’t just another Group One race—it was a statement. Samangan had been pointing to this contest since finishing second in the July Cup at Newmarket last year, a run that hinted at greater things to come. His success at Deauville underlines France’s growing strength in middle-distance racing, challenging the traditional dominance of British and Irish-trained horses in such contests. The prize money—€300,000—was a welcome boost too, but the real value lies in the Group One status, which secures the horse’s place in breeding and future racing plans.

Graffard now turns his attention to the Prix de la Forêt at Longchamp in October, where Samangan could bid for a second top-level win in under three months. The horse’s class and consistency make him a serious contender in any mile-plus race, and connections won’t hesitate to chase another Group One if the right race comes up. For now, though, the focus is on the celebrations in Normandy—another French star has risen under Graffard’s watchful eye.