Francis Graffard's remarkable run continues with Gezora proving too strong in Filly & Mare Turf

Francis Graffard’s glittering autumn continued as Gezora ran down She Feels Pretty to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

It marked a first Breeders’ Cup success for the trainer, who landed the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Daryz last month, and a second win at the prestigious meeting for jockey Mickael Barzalona.

Gezora, who finished 13th in the Arc, bounced back at Del Mar with a brilliant performance to give France their first Breeders’ Cup victory since 2017.

It was also a landmark moment for Graffard, who recorded his 13th top-level win of the season, equalling the record for a French trainer set by Andre Fabre in 1992.

• Recap all of the action on a blockbuster Breeders' Cup Saturday
  

Graffard was seen wildly celebrating on NBC’s coverage and said: “It’s amazing. She’s a very good filly. I was questioning myself, do I train them properly to win a race on a course like this? It took me three runners to get the win.

“What a perfect run and what a filly she is. She’s small but has the biggest heart of any I’ve ever trained. She’s amazing and gives us so much emotion.

"It's a meeting I absolutely admire and I really want to be competitive here. We'll keep trying, it's done now and we'll look for the next one."

She Feels Pretty had tracked Be Your Best, who made the running and led turning in. However, Gezora found more in the straight to reel her in and finished ahead.

Gezora and Mickael Barzalona following their Breeders' Cup successCredit: Orlando Ramirez (Getty Images)

The pair were followed home by Godolphin’s Diamond Rain, ridden by Billy Loughnane, while David Egan produced a huge run on Amo's Cathedral to finish fourth at 50-1.

By Aidan O’Brien’s standards it was a disappointing day, with Bedtime Story, his final runner of the meeting, only managing fifth.

Barzalona, who partnered Daryz to victory in the Arc, was reunited with Gezora in the final race of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup and said: “She’s a top-class filly. We got a good spot in the race, it never slowed down and I had to ask her to go early, but she was very good to catch the one in front.”

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